A Minnesota House committee on Tuesday approved a bill that would legalize medical marijuana after hearing emotional testimony from patients’ families about its benefits.

“I am no longer willing to support making criminals out of the sick and dying,” said Joni Whiting, 58, of Jordan, whose adult daughter used marijuana to deal with melanoma symptoms during the final months of her life.

But the idea remains controversial, and Gov. Mark Dayton has signaled that supporters must work with opponents to find a compromise or settle for legislation that would authorize a study of the issue.

“This is still a highly addictive, mind-altering drug,” testified Autumn Leva of the Minnesota Family Council. “This bill sends entirely the wrong message to our youth.”

The bill would allow patients with debilitating health conditions access to medical marijuana so long as a doctor or designated health professional certified they were likely to benefit.

Patients and caregivers would need ID cards issued by the state Department of Health, which also would regulate a network of new dispensaries. Some patients would be allowed to grow up to six marijuana plants in their homes.

The legislation “would allow legal, safe and regulated treatment for patients who need … treatment with medical marijuana,” Rep. Carly Melin, DFL-Hibbing, the bill’s sponsor, said during a hearing in the House Health and Human Services Policy Committee.

Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen, R-Glencoe, offered an amendment to strip the bill of language that would allow patients to smoke marijuana as well as grow it.

Instead, he suggested, patients could take marijuana through other means such as vaporization.

He added that cultivation of plants is a controversial idea with law enforcement officials and many House members.

Melin countered that some sick patients lack the dexterity or financial means to use vaporizers.

Dr. Suzanne Sisley, a medical marijuana expert with the Arizona Telemedicine Program, added: “A majority of the patients still do successfully smoke the plant and get excellent efficacy with very minimal side effects.”

The amendment failed by an 8-10 vote.

Ultimately, the committee advanced the bill on a voice vote. It now goes to the House Government Operations committee.

Law enforcement officials who have voiced concerns about medical marijuana proposals did not testify Tuesday.

The Minnesota Police & Peace Officers Association is “strongly opposed” to medical marijuana legislation, according to a resolution the group adopted in 2013.

At the time, members noted that marijuana was a controlled substance; possession and use remains a federal crime.

“The scientific community concluded from rigorous studies that marijuana is physiologically and psychologically addictive,” the resolution stated.

“Further conclusion from studies is that one out of every 10 to 12 people who use marijuana will eventually become addicted to the drug.”

Dayton has said he wants proponents of the bill and law enforcement officials to work out a compromise. One possibility is developing a pill that would allow patients the same benefits they would get from smoking the drug, Dayton has said.

The governor also suggested a study could be helpful so that the Legislature could return to the issue in 2015 with better information. Among the questions, Dayton has said, is how to fund creation of distribution centers.

“There’s so many unanswered questions about medical marijuana,” Dayton said in comments released by his spokesman. “There are not nearly enough studies … because it’s such a new area nationwide.

“How many people really need this substance and cannot find medical relief from anything else?”

Patients and family members who dominated three hours of testimony Tuesday, however, said medical marijuana provides unique benefits.

“We are out of options, and out of time,” said Angie Weaver, 32, of Hibbing, whose daughter suffers seizures from a rare form of epilepsy. “The only way to get the medicine that my daughter needs is to move our entire family.”

“We’re separated because of the laws of this state,” said Maria Botker, 38, of Clinton, whose 7-year-old daughter lives in Colorado, where medical marijuana is legal and is used to treat the girl’s seizure disorder.

“This is so not dangerous for our society. … But it is so live-saving for our daughter.”

Minnesota lawmakers in 2009 passed a bill to legalize medical marijuana, but Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoed it.

Medical marijuana is now legal in 20 states and the District of Columbia.