>> CATHY: FORMER GOVERNOR JESSE VENTURA RETURNED TO THE CAPITOL TO DELIVER POWERFUL TESTIMONY AS THE LEGALIZATION OF ADULT-USE CANNABIS CONTINUES TO MOVE THROUGH HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES.

LONGTIME POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER HAS MORE ON WHY THE ISSUE OF MARIJUANA MATTERS SO MUCH TO THE VENTURAS.

>> THE SENATE WILL COME TO ORDER.

>> Mary: THE SENATE HAD BEEN THE STOPPING POINT FOR MARIJUANA EGALIZATION IN THE STATE BUT WITH A NO PARTY IN CONTROL, THAT'S WHERE FORMER GOVERNOR JESSE VENTURA DECIDED TO TESTIFY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE UPPER CHAMBER.

>> I'M HERE BECAUSE STARTED THIS.

AND AS GOVERNOR, I BELIEVED IN HEMP AND CANNABIS BACK THEN.

>> Mary: VENTURA SAYS IT WAS A VISION HE HAD OVER 20 YEARS AGO AND HE WANTS TO SEE CANNABIS USE BECOME LAW.

>> CANNABIS SAVED MY LIFE.

>> REMEMBER, VENTURA HONED HIS ORATORY SKILLS AS A PRO-WRESTLER AND HOLLYWOOD ACTOR AND HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS WIFE OF NEARLY 50 YEARS IS NOTABLE.

THEY SHARED WITH US HOW THEY RENEWED THEIR VOWS DURING HIS ADMINISTRATION AT THE GOVERNOR'S RESIDENCE.

SO THIS ISSUE IS PERSONAL.

>> I GET CHOKED UP A LITTLE.

BEAR WITH ME.

IT WAS ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO, FIRST LADY, TERRY VENTURA, STARTED SUFFERING FROM LATE-STAGE SEIZURES.

>> OUR NEW FIRST LADY, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL NIGHT I'VE HAD IN A LONG, LONG TIME.

VERY HAPPY FOR MY HUSBAND, HE DID A GREAT JOB AND HE'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO A GREAT JOB FOR EVERYBODY IN MINNESOTA.

>> THEY PUT HER ON FOUR DIFFERENT SEIZURE MEDICINES.

FIRST ONE DID NOT WORK.

FIRST TWO DID NOT WORK.

THIRD ONE DID NOT WORK.

FOURTH ONE DID NOT WORK.

ALL HAD BAD SIDE EFFECTS.

IN DESPERATION, WE BROKE THE LAW.

>> Mary: THE VENTURAS WENT TO COLORADO WHERE CANNABIS IS LEGAL.

>> Y WIFE TOOK THE FIRST THREE DROPS UNDER HE TONGUE AND HAS NOT HAD A SEIZURE SINCE.

NONE.

MARIJUANA CANNABIS STOPPED THE SEIZURES.

>> KIND OF LIKE BEING UNDERWATER ALL THE TIME.

YOU GET UP AND EVERYTHING IS AN EFFORT TO MOVE, TO WALK, TO TALK, TO DO ANYTHING.

>> Mary: MINNESOTA'S MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM IS EXPENSIVE AND VENTURA WANTS LOWER PRICES FOR ALL WITH FULL LEGALIZATION.

>> I DON'T WANT NO OTHER FAMILY TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT MY FAMILY WENT THROUGH.

>> Mary: EVER THE SHOWMAN, HE CONCLUDED WITH ANOTHER COMPELLING CONFESSION.

>> I BEHAVED FAR WORSE ON ALCOHOL THAN I EVER HAVE ON CANNABIS.

>> THANK YOU, GOVERNOR.

>> >> THE ONLY BAD THING I DID ON CANNABIS, I WENT AND SAW JIMMY HENDRICKS AND JANICE JOPLIN.