MADISON, Wis. -- A new bill would make it legal for terminally or seriously ill patients in Wisconsin to use marijuana to ease their symptoms.

The Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act is sponsored by state Rep. Mark Pocan and state Sen. Jon Erpenbach.

Democratic lawmakers said on Thursday that the act would make marijuana legal for medicinal purposes only. Individuals would need to fit certain criteria to be allowed to use it and would need a note from a doctor to obtain it, they said.

"It's a situation that makes a lot of sense and it's also a situation dealing with compassion -- how can you not have compassion for someone who says, 'Look, the nausea is really upsetting, the chemo treatments are really tough and this is the only way I can find a little bit of relief from the pain,'" said Erpenbach, D-Waunakee.

Erpenbach also said growing and using the marijuana would be controlled by the state's Department of Health and Family Services.

A similar act recently passed in Michigan.