The Minnesota House of Representatives will vote today on a bill to legalize marijuana that was just recently approved by a conference committee. The measure, if approved, will be sent to the Senate where it will receive one final vote before reaching the governor.
The House’s action on Thursday comes only two days after Rep. Zack Stephenson, the main sponsor of the bill (D), approved the 320-page report processed by nonpartisan legislative staff on Tuesday following a final meeting of bipartisan negotiators.
Minnesota House DFL Minority (@mnhouseDFL). 18 May 2023
The Senate will likely take up the bill as soon as possible after the House has passed it, since the legislative session concludes on Monday. The governor has promised to sign the bill as soon as he receives it.
Watch live the House vote on the final marijuana legislation bill in the video below.
Members of the conference committee convened because the House and Senate cannabis legalization bills had been separately amended during a lengthy committee process. They needed to be united before final votes.
Democratic-Farmer-Labor lawmakers point to the achievement on cannabis reform as a direct result of voters putting the party in the majority in both chambers after last year’s election.
The bill that passed both chambers was an updated version of the bill passed by the House in 2021. Former Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, (D), is now the campaign chairman for the advocacy coalition MN Is Ready.
Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat from Minnesota, has asked supporters to join the legislature and administration in their efforts to legalize marijuana in this session. He circulated an email in January encouraging people to sign the petition.
#LFG! (After any available budget bills are acted on) https://t.co/Pmz1DbrqHb
— Senator Lindsey Port 18 May 2023 HTML0
The main components of the final marijuana legislation bill, the HF 100.
Adults 21 years and older can purchase and possess up to 2 ounces of marijuana in public. They are also allowed to grow up to 8 plants at home. Four of them may be mature. In their homes, people could have up to two pounds worth of marijuana.
Adults can give each other up to 2 oz of marijuana for free.
The licensing process and the sales of adult-use cannabis are expected to start in 12-18 months. From March 1, 2025 existing medical cannabis businesses will be able to receive new combination licensing that allows them to enter the adult-use market.
In August, prior marijuana records will also be automatically expunged. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension will be responsible for identifying those who qualify for relief and processing the expungements. The Cannabis Expungement Board will also have to identify misdemeanor crimes that are eligible for expungement but were not automatically cleared, and notify the courts in order to process clemency.
Municipalities and counties can also own and run government dispensaries in addition to creating an entire system of cannabis businesses.
The bill allows for cannabis delivery services and on-site consumption permits to be granted at events.
Local governments will not be allowed by law to ban marijuana businesses in their area, but they can set “reasonable regulations” on time and location. They may also limit the number of cannabis licenses issued based on the population size.
The state will impose a standard sales tax of 6.875 percent plus a 10 percent gross receipts tax.
Eighty percent of the revenue would be deposited in the general fund, with some money earmarked to fund cannabis businesses and substance abuse treatment programs. Twenty percent would go to local government.
The Office of Cannabis Management, which would regulate the market and issue cannabis business licenses, would be created. A designated Division of Social Equity would be created.
The legislation will promote social equity in part by rewarding equity applicants with higher scores. Social equity applicants would include people who live in low-income areas and veterans who have lost their honorable status because of a cannabis-related crime. People who are convicted of cannabis crimes, or have a family member who is convicted, will also be eligible.
—
Marijuana Moment is tracking over 1,000 cannabis, drug policy and psychedelics bills that have been introduced in state legislatures this year. Patreon Supporters who pledge at least $25/month have access to our interactive charts, maps and hearing calendar.
To get access, become a Patreon member and learn more about our Marijuana Bill Tracker.
—
Before it was brought to the House floor, this bill had been vetted in numerous committees. The bill passed the Ways and Means Committee and Taxes Committee. It also passed the Transportation Finance and Policy Committee and Health Finance and Policy Committee.
The Senate committees who have approved the bill include the Finance Committee, Taxes Committee, Rules and Administration Committee, State and Local Government and Veterans Committee, Labor Committee, Human Services Committee, Health and Human Services Committee, Transportation Committee, Environment, Climate, and Legacy Committee, Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development Committee, Jobs and Economic Development Committee, Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee, and Judiciary and Public Safety Committee.
Democrats agreed internally to discuss the issue as soon as possible after their November election victory.
A recent poll found that 64 per cent of Minnesota’s registered voters are in favor of a regulated market for marijuana. This includes 81 per cent of Democrats, and 49 percent of Republicans.
Two surveys released in September showed that the majority of Minnesotans supported the legalization of adult-use marijuana. One survey also revealed that more Minnesotans approved of the state’s decision to legalize THC infused edibles, which was implemented last year.
In September, a poll conducted by members of the House during the State Fair found that the majority also supported legalization. This legislature-run survey found that 61 per cent of Minnesotans support legalizing cannabis for adults.
The support for legalization was higher this year than in 2021 when the House Public Information Services surveyed fair-goers. The House poll in 2019 found that 56 percent supported legalization.
In Minnesota, however, the House passed a separate omnibus bill in the last month. This bill contains provisions that create a task force to prepare Minnesota for possible legalization.
On Tuesday, , the legislature passed a large-scale bill, which contains provisions that legalize drug paraphernalia, syringe service, residue, and testing. This is a victory for harm reduction advocates.
A key GOP congressman says he’ll review the federal ban on marijuana sales in D.C. after Mayor raises safety concerns
Photo by Philip Steffan.
The post Watch live: Minnesota House holds final vote on marijuana legalization bill appeared initially on Marijuana Moment.
