(C) Minnesota Reformer
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Senate passes bill legalizing recreational marijuana [1]
['Michelle Griffith', 'More From Author', '- April']
Date: 2023-05
The Minnesota Senate on Friday passed a bill legalizing recreational marijuana for people 21 and older by a 34-33 vote.
No Senate Republicans voted for the bill. The House passed its version on Monday, garnering two Republican votes. The bills have some differences, which means a conference committee of Senate and House members will have to agree on a final version of the bill. Gov. Tim Walz is expected to sign a legalization bill once it reaches his desk.
Polling shows the majority of Minnesota voters support legalizing recreational marijuana use. Minnesota would become the 23rd state to legalize cannabis for non-medical use.
The Senate and House bills are largely similar. Both would allow adults to purchase and possess up to two ounces of cannabis flower from a licensed retailer and grow up to eight cannabis plants in their homes, half of which can be mature plants. In addition, people convicted of marijuana-related petty misdemeanors would have their records expunged.
There are differences between the two bills, however. The House bill would restrict the amount of cannabis flower someone can have in their residence to 1.5 lbs which can create approximately 672 joints. The Senate’s bill has a limit of 5 lbs.
The House’s version implements an 8% tax on cannabis sales, while the Senate’s has a 10% tax. Both levies would come on top of state sales tax.
The Senate bill would allow local governments and municipalities to limit the number of cannabis businesses in their jurisdictions. The limits would depend on population size. The House has no cap on the number of licenses.
Senate Republicans on Friday expressed concern over legalizing recreational marijuana, highlighting potential side effects on people younger than 25 and effects on public safety. Republicans alleged that DFL senators were rushing the bill and ignoring the potential consequences, like additional traffic accidents.
“I’m surprised that it’s being pushed so prematurely — such a bill that has so many challenges,” said Sen. Carla Nelson, R-Rochester at a press conference before the Friday floor vote. “I am vastly concerned that we are not addressing it properly.”
In fact, cannabis legalization has been under serious discussion at the Capitol since 2019, and the House first passed a legalization bill in 2021.
The bill’s supporters noted it has passed over a dozen committees and has endured thorough vetting.
“The prohibition of cannabis is a failed system that has not achieved the desired goals and has had incredible cost for our communities — especially for communities of color,” said Sen. Lindsey Port, DFL-Burnsville, on the Senate floor. “Our main goals are to legalize, regulate and expunge, and this bill does just that.”
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