Minnesota Senate final vote to legalize adult-use cannabis

Early Saturday, the Minnesota Senate voted to legalize adult-use cannabis. The bill went to Democratic Gov. Tim Walz for final approval.

The bill allows Minnesota residents ages 21 and older to purchase up to two ounces of cannabis flower, eight grams of concentrate and 800 milligrams worth of edibles each. And it’s not limited to their homes. Adults can possess these amounts in public. However, residents as young as 21 can grow up to eight cannabis plants at a time in the comfort of their own homes, although under ever-evolving marijuana laws only four of those eight plants are allowed to mature and flower at one time. The tax rate for cannabis products is 10 percent.

The Minnesota House of Representatives approved the bill last Thursday.

The Democrats are already celebrating the victory. “The day has finally come. Today is the last day we will vote here in the House of Representatives to legalize cannabis and bring about the change that many Minnesotans have long wanted,” said Democratic state representative Zack Stephenson, the representative of Coon Rapids sponsored the bill.

Even some Republicans see the benefit of the bill, as Minnesota is the 23rd state in the US to legalize adult-use cannabis and the 11th state to allow home cultivation. Republican Rep. Nolan West of Blaine, Minnesota says he’s glad they included the GOP on the conference committee that finalized the bill. “While it’s not the perfect bill, it’s a lot better than it used to be [first] “I left the House of Representatives,” said West, who voted in favour. However, he adds that he’s glad cities could limit the number of cannabis retailers, which is good news for the black market and intimidating news for those entering the legal market due to taxes, bureaucracy, and banking restrictions want Among other things, it is becoming increasingly difficult to generate a profit.

However, not all Republicans in Minnesota agree. For example, Republican Rep. Jeff Backer of Browns Valley made it clear that he opposes the provision allowing people to have two pounds of cannabis flower in their homes. (Most states that have legalized adult use of cannabis have much lower home possession limits. In California, for example, you can only have one ounce of dried cannabis flower.) “Guys, that’s 2,724 joints. It’s going to get into the hands of the kids,” said Backer, an opponent who voted against the measure. “If we don’t protect our next generation, children, then why are we here?”

Republicans also expressed concern that more people are driving under the influence of cannabis, although a recent Canadian study found that legalizing marijuana is not leading to an increase in car accidents.

If passed, the bill would automatically overturn misdemeanor marijuana convictions and establish a committee to consider overturning cannabis offenses at the felony level. However, according to the state’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, it could take up to a year for all crime records to be erased, leaving those hardest hit by the war on drugs yet to break out their legal joints and celebrate. Additionally, it could take up to a year or even longer for Minnesota to have legal dispensaries open. If the law is passed, there will also be a new state agency, the Office of Cannabis Management, which will oversee the licensing of adult-use and medicinal cannabis in addition to the hemp products already legal in the state.

Beginning August 1, however, Minnesota will decriminalize cannabis possession, legalize home growing, and begin overturning previous marijuana convictions.