Lawmakers moved one step closer to approving the use of medical marijuana for children Monday.

The Public Health Committee overwhelmingly approved the proposal to allow qualified patients under the age of 18 to use medical marijuana for debilitating illnesses, with parental consent.

Lawmakers say it's a polarizing topic, but prescriptions will be highly regulated.

"It's pretty easy to say 'the legislature is giving marijuana to kids and sort of say it like that off the cuff, and it doesn't really talk about what the bill does. It's not at all what it does," says state Rep. Matt Ritter. "We are allowing people in serious pain, and families in agony, to have an option."

The bill will move on to the House of Representatives for further action.