SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Today, the Minnesota House approved legislation to legalize adult-use cannabis and expunge the records of those convicted of nonviolent cannabis-related crimes. The bill, co-authored by Rep. Dan Wolgamott (DFL - St. Cloud), passed on a bipartisan vote of 71-59.
“Minnesota’s outdated cannabis laws are doing more harm than good. Our bill will legalize adult-use cannabis while creating a regulatory framework to change our current system which causes disproportionate harm to Minnesotans of color,” said Rep. Wolgamott. “This is a comprehensive, responsible bill, crafted with direct input from the people of St. Cloud, and it’s time to get it over the finish line.”
Once signed into law, Minnesota will become the 22nd state to legalize adult-use cannabis and the third state in the Midwest. Created with this bill is the Office of Cannabis Management, which will oversee the regulation of cannabis, cannabis products, hemp edibles, and hemp-derived consumer products.
This legislation provides for automatic expungement of prior petty misdemeanor and misdemeanor marijuana convictions and creates a Cannabis Expungement Board to review other cannabis convictions and determine whether a person is eligible for expungement.
This legislation directs the Department of Employment and Economic Development to give grants to nonprofit corporations to subsidize startup loans to new cannabis microbusinesses, and help cannabis businesses start and train employees.
As part of the House DFL’s efforts to receive public input on the bill, Rep. Wolgamott held a “Be Heard on Cannabis” event in St. Cloud to help craft the legislation last biennium.
The bill is currently moving through the legislative process in the Minnesota Senate. You can view the debate on the House YouTube Channel.
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