Medical marijuana will be legalized in Missouri. It’s only a matter of time.State Rep. Dave Hinson, R-St. Clair, appreciates this reality. Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia currently have laws legalizing marijuana in some form and there is a good chance a measure to legalize, tax, and regulate cannabis will be on the statewide ballot in Missouri in 2016.Whether Missourians are ready to go  “all-in” on pot and legalize it for recreational use like Colorado and Washington state is uncertain. But the trend lines are clear. A growing number of states and cities have decriminalized possession, making it on par with littering.The Missouri Legislature opened the door last session on legalizing medical marijuana when it approved the use of a cannabis extract to treat children with epilepsy. Some thought that would never happen.The smart approach, according to Hinson, is to ensure that further expansion of medicinal marijuana is done in a tightly regulated manner that respects local control. Better to not make the same mistakes other states have made in adopting medicinal marijuana.  That’s why Hinson filed House Bill 800 which allows local governments to enact “reasonable zoning rules” to limit the use of land for medical cannabis centers, production and cultivation facilities. The bill also includes extensive licensing requirements for medical cannabis centers as well as production and cultivation facilities.Under Hinson’s legislation, a city or county could prohibit the operation of medical cannabis centers if the majority of the voters choose to do so.   The fact that Hinson, a staunch conservative who represents a largely rural constituency, is willing to introduce legislation on medical marijuana is a good indicator of just how far the norms and attitudes on pot have shifted.In fact, Hinson’s bill is one of three medical marijuana bills introduced this session.Hinson’s motivation for legalizing medical marijuana, like so many others, is personal. He watched friends and family members, including his father, suffer painful deaths brought on by cancer. He said his father was offered marijuana by the Veterans Administration to combat the debilitating effects of chemotherapy treatments but he refused because it was illegal. He wonders if marijuana would have eased his father’s suffering just as it has for so many others.Hinson doesn’t support legalizing pot for recreational use; he’s clear on that point. He also acknowledges there is still a debate in the medical community regarding the health benefits of marijuana. Likewise, there remains stiff opposition in some segments of the law enforcement community towards any legalization efforts.But the fact is a growing number of health professionals agree that marijuana can alleviate some of the symptoms of a number of health conditions.No doubt it has been a godsend for many seriously ill patients, especially those afflicted with cancer.It’s hard to fault anyone, especially parents or family members, for wanting to save their children or loved ones from suffering. If you’ve been there, you understand this point.Why not give those in this difficult spot another option to treat their suffering and do it in a sensible way?It’s a good question and one that lawmakers may resolve this session or in the very near future.