Minnesota’s legislative debate over medical marijuana morphed from “Reefer Madness” to a reasonable compromise intended to ease the suffering of thousands of Minnesotans. It’s too bad more issues can’t be approached this way in St. Paul, Bismarck or Washington, D.C.

“This was not on the legislative agenda of most of us in this room,” Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook) said when the bill was OK’d in his chamber by a strong 46-16 vote. “What that tells me is this is a wonderful example of how representative democracy works. A small group of families with their hurting children came to the Capitol, and they changed the law.”

What telling words.

Minnesota’s House and Senate gave final approval to a bill legalizing medical marijuana late last week with strong bipartisan support, even though Democrats hold majorities in both chambers. The law, which goes into effect July 1, 2015, is very tightly written. Eight medical conditions qualify for treatment: cancer, glaucoma, AIDS, ALS, Crohn’s Disease, Tourette’s Syndrome, epilepsy, severe muscle pain brought on by multiple sclerosis or terminal illnesses with a life expectancy of less than a year if the illness or treatment produces severe or chronic pain. The drug will be available only in pill, oil or vapor form. Smoking pot for medical purposes will not be allowed, nor will access to the plant in its original form.

The law’s passage is considered a major breakthrough for the families to which Bakk referred, many who have children suffering from rare forms of epilepsy. Marijuana in oil form can reduce seizures from hundreds a day to a handful.

The details of the bill are important. It is the most restrictive law of the 22 states that have authorized medical marijuana. And it had to be that way to win legislative approval and the blessing of Gov. Mark Dayton and state law enforcement.

It’s a lesson in compromise.

When the topic of medical marijuana first arose at the Capitol this session, law enforcement and many legislators of both parties were strongly opposed. Using California’s liberal law as an example, they said legalizing medical pot would lead to nothing more than an influx of high-grade marijuana in Minnesota and people abusing the law as an excuse to legally get high.

Some of the opposition seemed reminiscent of the “Reefer Madness” view of marijuana. “Reefer Madness” was a 1930s anti-drug propaganda film depicting high school kids experimenting with pot and having their lives unravel because of it. Suicide, manslaughter, hit-and-run accidents, rape, mental illness — they were all in the film, and all (allegedly) caused by smoking a joint.

It seemed Minnesota’s chances of legalizing medical marijuana were nil because of law enforcement’s and Dayton’s opposition.

But then a funny thing happened. Families of children suffering from debilitating seizures began to lobby, educate, inform and speak on behalf of their children. No, they said, this is not about making it easier to get pot. No, they said, we don’t have to have a law as liberal as California’s. No, they said, this is about nothing more than trying to give our children a better quality of life.

No, they said, this is not “Reefer Madness.”

And people began to listen. Legislators originally opposed to the law, listened. The media listened. The public listened. Law enforcement listened. The governor listened.

Supporters compromised. They gave, they took, they wouldn’t take “no” for an answer. And they continued to educate and inform. Until eventually, miraculously, the House and the Senate came together to pass medical marijuana into Minnesota law Friday.

Let’s repeat the Senate Majority Leader’s quote: “… this is a wonderful example of how representative democracy works.”

Maybe you like the new law, maybe you don’t. Either way, this is how the system is supposed to work.

(Mike McFeely is a talk-show host on 790 KFG0-AM. His program can be heard 2-5 p.m. weekdays.)