The Iowa Senate voted Wednesday to pass a bill that would legalize medical marijuana for ailing Iowans, although the proposal faces strong resistance in the Republican-controlled House.

“Sick and suffering Iowans are asking for our help,” said Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City, the bill’s floor manager. He said the proposal would create a safe, legal, affordable, effective and highly regulated way for Iowans and their families to access medicines made from cannabis.

Senate File 484 would allow Iowans with a range of health problems to obtain medical marijuana. Those conditions could include cancer, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder and other chronic and debilitating ailments. The bill would allow up to four producers to grow marijuana in Iowa with oversight from state officials. It would also allow independent dispensaries to sell the drug. [Read more at the Des Moines Register]