A path Jessica Hauser never expected to be traveling is moving her and her family toward a crossroads. The journey began when the Woodbury woman's son, Wyatt, was diagnosed seven months into his young life with an epileptic condition called infantile spasms. As Hauser and her husband Jeremy learned over time, the condition would cause Wyatt to have about 200 seizures a day. "It's horrible," Jessica said of watching her son experience the seizures. "I wouldn't wish this upon anyone." [continues 940 words]
ST. PAUL -- Bills making it legal for severely ill Minnesotans to use marijuana to ease their pain continues moving through the House and Senate. Both bills await further committee hearings after passing earlier tests. The Senate version passed the Judiciary Committee 4-3 Tuesday night. "I am increasingly confident that this will be the year that Minnesota joins the 13 other states that have acted to protect medical marijuana patients from arrest," said bill sponsor Sen. Steve Murphy, DFL-Red Wing. "This is an issue where science, compassion and simple common sense come together." Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia, sponsors the House bill. A House Civil Justice Committee hearing is expected soon. [end]
ST. PAUL - K.K. Forss dumped a trash-bag full of medicine bottles onto the floor, showing Minnesota lawmakers how he survived a serious spinal condition. They let the Ely, Minn., photographer survive, but his life was miserable. "I don't want the meds," he said. "I don't want drugs. I just want my life back." Forss was among several Minnesotans affected by painful diseases who told committee members Wednesday they support allowing marijuana to ease pain in some circumstances. [continues 439 words]
ST. PAUL - George Wagoner said all it took was two breaths of marijuana smoke and his wife could cope with the pain of terminal ovarian cancer. "She received dramatic relief," said Wagoner, a Michigan physician and medical marijuana advocate. Ryan Rasmussen said he is recovering from a troubled lifestyle that started when he smoked marijuana, which led him to dabble in a stronger street narcotic and criminal behavior. "Legalizing medical pot will cause more crime, not less crime," the 28-year-old Burnsville man warned. [continues 486 words]
