JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Republican-led Missouri legislature sent legislation to Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon on Thursday that would legalize the growth and sale of hemp oil in an effort to treat epilepsy.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Caleb Jones, R-Columbia, would allow non-profit groups licensed by the Missouri Department of Agriculture to grow a strain of hemp that has a high amount of cannabidiol (the therapeutic, potentially anti-inflammatory chemical), and a low amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (the intoxicating chemical).

Under the legislation, a family can only be prescribed the CBD oil by a doctor after “a neurologist stated that they have tried three other treatments for epilepsy, and none of them have worked.”

The legislation is Missouri’s first move away from a strict stance against marijuana, even for medical purposes. It moved with remarkable speed in the GOP-led legislature. The bill was introduced on March 31 and was sent out on Thursday, exactly a month later.

The bill received unanimous support in the Missouri Senate. Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, told other senators his story about a son with epilepsy and as a dad searching for a treatment. His son Stephen is nine and has had daily seizures since birth. Schmitt said his son is “maxed out” on the drugs to treat his condition.

“The medications have terrible side effects, but that’s all we’ve got,” he said. “The promise of CBD oil is real.”

Schmitt said there are several families seeking relief and the potential promise of the treatment in Colorado, where marijuana use has been made broadly available.

“This has had a profound impact on the children utilizing this,” he said.

There was some opposition in the Missouri House, where Rep. Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, was joined by 12 Republicans in opposition to the bill.

“More testing is required. I’m not sure I can support this bill in this form,” Schatz said. “We need accurate information over whether this s snake oil or a magic pill.”

Nixon has not yet said which action he will take on the bill.