Minnesota’s surprising and unique take on potential marijuana legalization

In a decision that surprised many in the state, Minnesota passed legislation legalizing some hemp-derived THC edibles at lower concentrations. As we did before reportedthis new law now allows companies to sell hemp-derived food and beverage packaging with up to 5 mg of THC in the state.

This new decision confused some people, but it also inadvertently launched a program that could show what a recreational marijuana program in Minnesota would look like. While the state has legalized medical marijuana, this new edible law gives Minnesota citizens a taste of what the state would look like with legal marijuana. Who knows, this small but incremental measure might even prove to be a new gateway for other states if all goes well.

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The dosage of THC that GOP lawmakers have approved, to be clear, is much lower than normal at up to 5 mg per pack. For context, “Recreational states have defined potency thresholds for edibles that limit THC to 50 or 100 mg per package and 5 or 10 mg per serving depending on the state,” states op to learn published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, which also noted that there are many instances where the potency of edibles sometimes did not match the packaging. In theory, a packet of these lower dose edibles in a different condition would roughly correspond to a normal dose of edibles.

The THC in question also comes from a slightly different source than most states. It’s derived from legal hemp plants rather than THC-rich marijuana, but they share the same chemical makeup. This means that while the plants used are the legal hemp strain, the THC levels are essentially the same. If you look at the chemical makeup of the edible, the THC is essentially the same. (See: Cannabis, marijuana and hemp – what exactly is the difference?)

The fact that it’s derived from hemp but is still THC, and the fact that it’s in a lower dosage but relatively unrestricted means this new edible law gives Minnesota residents a pretty realistic glimpse into the future of legal edibles grass in the state. “Overall, I think this is a way for Minnesotans to figure out what it’s like to sell legal product on shelves in a non-grey market,” says Kurtis Hanna, a local lobbyist for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws said to the Minnesota Star Tribune.

It’s definitely a very small and narrow area of ​​legalization, but Hanna still sees it as a good thing. “It’s pretty much exclusively about dipping the toe into beverages and edible food products rather than making any advances in smokable or vaporizable products,” he said. “But it’s a positive result.”

Some have said those who voted on this new law were confused and may even have voted on it by mistake. In fact, after the Legislature passed the amendment, there was a video of Senator Jim Abeler asking (apparently jokingly) whether or not they had just legalized marijuana. Democratic MP Tina Liebling answered “Oh, are you kidding? Of course you have. No, I’m just kidding. Next, let’s do that next.”

And while she might have been joking at the time, this new law could set the stage for opening the legalization door and potentially doing just that.