Saint Paul, Minn. — Yesterday, DFL lawmakers introduced adult-use cannabis legislation that will address criminal justice inequities created by our current system and allow law enforcement to focus on more serious issues. State Representative Dan Wolgamott (DFL - St. Cloud) is a co-author of the bill.
The adult-use cannabis bill is based on conversations with Minnesotans during the statewide “Be Heard on Cannabis” tour, which hosted town hall meetings in 15 communities spanning urban, suburban, and rural parts of the state; met with more than 30 organizations and associations; consulted with the Governor, Lt. Governor, and 13 state agencies; held 250 meetings with individuals and groups; and inspired legislators to work hundreds of hours to produce the bill.
“Minnesota’s current cannabis laws are doing more harm than good, which is why I hosted a town hall in 2019 to get feedback from our community on the issue of cannabis. During that event, and many times since, I've heard overwhelming support for safely legalizing and regulating cannabis for adult use," said Rep. Wolgamott. “I’ve taken the stories of my constituents and used them to help craft HF 600 for legalization, expungement, and regulation of cannabis. My adult constituents deserve the freedom and respect to make responsible decisions about cannabis use themselves.”
The adult-use cannabis bill would create a responsible regulatory structure focused on developing micro-businesses and a craft market; expunge most cannabis convictions; fund public health awareness, youth access prevention, and substance abuse treatment; provide grants, loans, technical assistance, and training for small businesses; require testing and labeling of products; restrict packaging based on dosage size; and allow limited home grow abilities.
“The failed criminalization of cannabis has resulted in a legacy of racial injustice that can no longer go unaddressed,” said Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, the bill’s chief author. “Adults deserve the freedom to decide whether to use cannabis, and our state government should play an important role in addressing legitimate concerns around youth access, public health, and road safety. Veterans and Minnesotans with serious illnesses like PTSD deserve better access to our medical program, which is not working well for most people. It’s time to legalize, expunge, and regulate.”
Black and white Minnesotans consume cannabis at very similar rates, yet while Black Minnesotans make up just 5% of the population they represent 30% of cannabis arrests. As of Nov. 4, 2020, voters in Arizona, Montana, New Jersey and South Dakota approved measures to regulate cannabis for adult-use, bringing the total to 15 states and 3 territories. A total of 36 states, District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands have approved comprehensive, publicly available medical marijuana/cannabis programs.
The next steps following the adult-use cannabis bill’s introduction are a series of public hearings that allow Minnesotans to ask questions and provide input.