A bill was introduced to the Minnesota House Monday that would legalize medical marijuana in Minnesota. A similar bill was recently introduced in the Minnesota Senate.

The language of the House bill would allow for "qualified" patients with a "registry identification card" to posess an "allowable" amount of medicinal marijuana for which they could not be arrested, prosecuted or penalized. The bill would also allow a primary caregiver with a "registry identification card" to possess an "allowable" amount of medicinal marijuana for each qualified patient under his or her care.

Marijuana has been used to treat nausea, pain and appetite loss for cancer and AIDS patients.

The bill was authored by Tom Huntley (DFL-Duluth) who also recently authored the Freedom to Breathe Act of 2007, proposing a statewide smoking ban. The medical marijuana bill had 18 sponsors and included both Democrat and Republican legislators.

If the bill became law, Minnesota would become the 12th state to legalize medicinal marijuana. Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington have already enacted similar legislation.

SOUND OFF: Would you support the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes in Minnesota?