On Tuesday, Governor Tim Walz signed a cannabis legalization bill into law, officially making Minnesota the 23rd state in the country to legalize recreational cannabis.
At Tuesday’s signing ceremony, Walz admitted the ban “doesn’t work,” adding that he and his fellow lawmakers are looking forward to starting the delisting process to qualify Minnesotans. Walz also noted that adults should be able to make up their own minds “about these kinds of choices.”
We’ve known for a long time that banning cannabis didn’t work. By legalizing adult use of cannabis, we expand our economy, create jobs, and regulate industry to keep Minnesotans safe.” “Legalizing adult use of cannabis and erasing or resenting cannabis convictions will strengthen communities. This is the right move for Minnesota.”
300 pages invoice It allows adults in the state over the age of 21 to use recreational cannabis and is looking to transform the existing illicit market into regulated, state-licensed businesses across the state. It specifically creates a new regulatory framework for licensing cannabis businesses to grow, manufacture and sell cannabis in retail dispensaries. There are a total of 12 different commercial licenses a person can apply for in the recreational market, along with additional medical cannabis licenses.
The legislation also eliminates low-level cannabis convictions. The new law would automatically eliminate non-criminal cannabis offenses, and would create a board to review more serious cannabis offenses. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s process of automatic deletion of records is scheduled to begin Aug. 1, according to the bill.
The bill was designed with social justice in mind, granting social justice status to military veterans or active duty personnel who have been denied honorable mention status due to a cannabis offense, farmers from underrepresented communities and residents of areas that have “seen a disproportionately high amount of enforcement.” hemp.”
It will also establish an office of hemp management, which will oversee the regulation and sale of cannabis products in Minnesota.
In addition, the bill legalizes the possession of up to two pounds of cannabis in a private residence and limited home cultivation by adults over 21. Outside, Minnesota adults are allowed up to 2 oz. The legislation allows adults to grow up to eight cannabis plants at home, including four mature flowering plants.
Possession possession for adults 21 and older will officially be legal in the state starting August 1.
“While Minnesota may be the 23rd state to legalize cannabis, I think we passed the best bill in the state that Minnesotans can be really proud of,” said Representative Bill Zack Stephenson, DFL-Coon Rapids, Tell WCCO.
Stephenson also said he expects it will be 12 to 18 months before residents and visitors can go into a store and purchase recreational cannabis products. Specifically, he noted that “we’re going to put some people in positions to be able to manage this,” while assuring Minnesotans that lawmakers have put “a lot of thought” into the bill and the way forward.
All eyes were on Minnesota as the legislation advanced earlier this year. More than two dozen legislative committees have examined the legislation, as the Minnesota House of Representatives and Senate approved separate bills to legalize cannabis in late April. The conference committee settled the differences between the two bills, followed by the approval of the bill by the House of Representatives on May 18 passed in the Senate on May 20 and went to Walz’s office, where he was expected to sign it into law.
The newly passed legislation is also in line with the general opinion of most Minnesotans. newly vote KSTP-TV and SurveyUSA found that 64% of registered voters support legalizing cannabis for adults. Minnesota legalized medical cannabis back in 2014.
