Legislative Update: Community Events, Public Safety, THC News

Dear neighbors,  

I hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy. 

Here’s the latest news from the Capitol:

Urgency to Address Gun Violence

The Fourth of July brought forward numerous mass shootings this year, including one close to home: Boom Island. What’s supposed to be a celebratory experience in our communities left families broken and traumatized. I’ve heard from so many of you on this issue - we need to move swiftly on gun regulation to save more lives. We, as a nation, deserve better. 

More people were shot and killed in America over the weekend than are killed by guns in Japan and the UK combined during an average year. It’s not video games, lack of prayer, or anything else that caused it. It’s guns. It’s always guns.

It’s time that dissenters on the other side of the aisle develop the political courage to ban assault rifles, close loopholes allowing people access without background checks, and encourage safety in our communities with red flag laws - all popular proposals. I’m constantly inspired by the incredible leaders within Moms Demand Action, and I will continue to fight with them for a better, safer world for our kids.

Hemp THC Legal in Minnesota as of 7/1

As you may have heard, low-dose THC edibles and drinks became legal under new legislation that came into effect on July 1st, as detailed in this StarTribune article. This legislation is not full legalization of cannabis but is a tangible step towards the safe regulation of THC products in Minnesota. It also makes us the only state in the union to make THC Seltzer and Beer legal in local breweries and bars.

The new law is a positive step forward for business owners and consumers who buy hemp-derived products, but Minnesotans deserve a comprehensive legalization framework for cannabis. Much work remains undone. We must address the harms caused by the war on drugs, including expunging cannabis criminal records, creating a new marketplace based on equity, and dedicating new revenues to the communities most harmed by cannabis prohibition.

This legislation allows Minnesotans to safely obtain the products they want. Before this legislation was signed into law, the state of Minnesota had little to no regulatory framework around products containing THC derived from hemp. Products targeting youth quickly proliferated across the state, often with colorful advertising/packaging and candy-like products with non-childproofed containers. The new law adds necessary guardrails to protect kids. This legislation was well researched and discussed at-length in the open in public. 

Despite how some reports have illustrated the law, the effort was very much intentional, even though it may have surprised our counterparts on the other side of the aisle. Some access to a regulated market is better than no access. My hope is that next year we can fully legalize cannabis, address racial disparities in our criminal justice system, tax it to put investments into our communities and put forward important public health measures that Republicans wouldn’t let through this year. 

Looking for Applicants: DHS Cultural Leadership Council

The Department of Human Services’ Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council was created several sessions ago to allow BIPOC individuals to be in direct communication with the Commissioner of DHS. This is an important group who are able to raise their voices and address systemic disparities within our state institutions. 

The following council positions are currently accepting applications:

• Members representing diverse cultural and ethnic communities
• Members representing the American Indian community
• A member who is a Department of Human Services employee

Applying for council membership is a three-step process. To assure consideration, interested applicants should first complete an electronic application through the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Boards and Commissions website by end of day July 15, 2022. After you submit the electronic application, the Community Relations team will email a supplemental questionnaire which must be completed and returned by July 18, 2022 to guarantee consideration for council membership. A panel will review applications, and select finalists for a brief interview. Recommendations will then be sent to the Commissioner of Human Services for appointment. The first CECLC meeting for newly appointed members will be October 21, 2022

For more information visit the CECLC webpage.  

For any questions on the CECLC or the application process, please contact Nicole Juan, Nicole.m.juan@state.mn.us

Connecting with Minnesotans

I spent an incredible afternoon with the staff of White Bear Center for the Arts yesterday.  I toured the facility, learned about their work, and experienced the breadth of art available through WBCA.

WBCA is a small arts nonprofit serving the north east metro corridor. Their goal is to transform the organization into an epicenter for artistic, economic, and social equality.

As we think about this Independence Day and what it means, let us not forget the fight it took to gain it. Colonists who desired complete independence from Great Britain were considered radical. Out of that radical belief came freedom.

Those of us seeking freedom to choose for our own bodies, freedom from gun violence for our loved ones, and freedom to participate in our democracy peacefully, are being viewed as radical but our fight will set us free. May this fourth remind us that we too will persevere.

Thank you St. Anthony Park for hosting the best 4th in the Park Parade. It was wonderful to see everyone in person. Reminder: It is patriotic to want to change your country for the better.

I had the distinct honor of co-hosting a private dinner with Papaya Petite Sousada for the Ambassador to Laos, Peter Haymond, at my home. Sousada treated the Ambassador and our distinguished guests to a three course vegan Lao dinner.

Many thanks to Bo Thao-Urabe for being the architect of the evening. She had the vision to bring Hmong and Lao leaders from different sectors for a conversation. Our dinner discussions included the current state of the relationship between the United States and Laos, education, commerce, trade, and the next generation of leadership.

We are grateful for the time spent with Ambassador Haymond. This is the first of many conversations. We look forward to where our mutual interest for Laos and its people will take us.

Looking Ahead

July 22nd marks the 60-day deadline out from the legislative session, after which I’m no longer able to send these e-updates or do outreach from my legislative office. This is an important measure that’s in place to ensure that our elections are fair, and that incumbent candidates don’t have more resources than newcomers. I am, however, still able to respond to you if you reach out.

I welcome your questions and comments anytime. You can email me at rep.kaohly.her@house.mn

Thank you for the privilege of representing you in the legislature.

Sincerely,   

Kaohly