Minnesota Accidentally Legalizes Edibles – Cannabis News, Lifestyle

Minnesota inadvertently legalized edible cannabis products as part of a regulatory overhaul on July 1, 2022.

State legislators have passed legislation allowing the sale of products containing “non-intoxicating cannabinoids.” But there is a loophole in the law that essentially legalizes all forms of THC edibles.

At least one Republican senator has come forward and admitted it was a mistake.

Minnesota’s THC loophole

Minnesota’s accidental legalization of edibles comes from Section 151.72 of the new law. The law defines “non-intoxicating cannabinoid” as “substances extracted from certified hemp plants that do not produce an intoxicating effect when consumed by any route of administration.”

The bill then states that edible cannabinoid products are legal as long as the product contains no more than 0.3 percent THC. And no more than 5 milligrams of THC in a single serving. Or more than 50 mg total THC per pack.

Ever since former President Donald Trump legalized hemp cannabinoids in the 2018 Farm Bill, states have wrestled with how to respond. Americans are consuming hemp-derived delta-8-THC, delta-9-THC, delta-10-THC, and THC-O-acetate like it’s going out of style. Many lawmakers are alarmed that these hemp cannabinoids are “unregulated” or “intoxicating.”

Due to the drug war mentality, most states have enacted regulations on hemp and its derivatives. Some states have outright banned cannabinoids like Delta-8. Lawsuits have been filed by cannabis connoisseurs in these anti-cannabis states.

However, no one accidentally legalized edible cannabis products quite like Minnesota.

How Minnesota accidentally legalized edibles

On the surface it looks fine. The new law allows products containing less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC to be sold. That’s probably why the state senate voted in favor of it. If you consume a product with 99% CBD and 0.3% THC, you will not get high.

However, keep in mind that a 60 gram candy bar can contain up to 180 mg of THC if restricted to a THC concentration of 0.3% by weight.

A 4-gram hemp candy can contain up to 10 mg of THC and still fall below the 0.3 percent concentration.

Minnesota’s Accidental Edibles Act allows for 5 mg of THC per serving and 50 mg of THC per packet.

It’s possible that Minnesota lawmakers thought 50 mg of THC from hemp was less potent than 50 mg of THC from a “regular” cannabis plant. Maybe they didn’t read the bill before voting on it. Maybe they’re having trouble doing basic calculations and thought 0.3% THC was the upper limit for all products.

Still, now is the time to visit Minnesota before they undo their mistake.