A coalition of Minnesota activists announced on Thursday that they\u2019ve launched the next phase of a campaign to legalize marijuana in the state, which includes grassroots advocacy and lobbying lawmakers to pass a revised reform bill that advanced through the House last year.<\/p>\n
Outgoing House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler (D) sponsored that legislation, and he\u2019s now joining the coalition as campaign chairman, MN is Ready said in a press release.<\/p>\n
\nWe’re excited to announce the next phase of the MN is Ready campaign that will push for the passage of a comprehensive adult-use cannabis legalization bill in 2023 that prioritizes safety, equity, and Minnesota businesses. #mnisready<\/a><\/p>\n
LEARN MORE: https:\/\/t.co\/7mKDNjfzil<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/L23AWQb1Cc<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 MN is Ready (@mnisready) December 29, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
The group\u2014which consists of industry stakeholders and community activists from across the state\u2014said it will be launching a 501(c)(4) called MN is Ready Action as the new legislative session begins, which will see the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party holding majorities in both the House and Senate, as well as the governor\u2019s office.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that the majority of Minnesotans agree that it\u2019s time to legalize and regulate adult-use cannabis,\u201d Winkler said. \u201cThe bill we passed in the House in 2021<\/a> went through more than a dozen committees and has since been updated and is ready for reintroduction. I\u2019m confident it\u2019s the right bill and the right time. Minnesota is ready for full legalization.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nI am excited to lead the campaign for cannabis legalization in MN\u2014we need to get this done in 2023! #mnleg<\/a> #MNisReady<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/qIhaJSIF06<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Ryan Winkler (@_RyanWinkler) December 29, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
The House-approved legislation, which ultimately stalled in the Senate under GOP control, called for allowing adults 21 and older to purchase and possess up to 1.5 ounces of marijuana and grow up to eight plants for personal use. Winkler called it the\u00a0\u201cbest legalization bill in the country\u201d<\/a> at the time.<\/p>\n
Leili Fatehi, campaign manager for MN is Ready, told Marijuana Moment on Thursday that the new bill that they\u2019ll be pushing for in 2023 is very similar to last session\u2019s, but includes key revisions\u2014such as adding a license category for businesses that sell \u201clower-potency edible products\u201d under Minnesota\u2019s unique THC law that the governor signed earlier this year.<\/a><\/p>\n
There would be reduced regulatory requirements for those licensees, and they\u2019d be able to permit on-site consumption if they have a liquor license, which is meant to ensure that shops currently selling low-THC beverages and edibles don\u2019t face disruption.<\/p>\n
Also, the revised bill fixes an issue in current statute that prohibits liquor stores from selling THC products. The criminal penalties section of the legislation was simplified to clear up confusion, and the bill now contains language banning synthetic cannabinoids, which is consistent with Board of Pharmacy rules put into place earlier this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we saw in this year\u2019s election was a coalescence and commitment by the House and Senate majorities to make legalization a reality,\u201d Fatehi said<\/a> in a press release. \u201cThere is an unquestionable mandate from Minnesota voters.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lawmakers and Gov. Tim Walz (D) have expressed optimism about the prospects of legalization in the upcoming session, especially with Democrats in control of both chambers.<\/p>\n
House Speaker Melissa Hortman (D) said recently that she expects cannabis reform to be included in the governor\u2019s forthcoming budget request, though she reiterated that the reform \u201cwill take a long time\u201d to move through the legislature.<\/p>\n
The governor included funding for implementing legalization<\/a> in his executive budget request this year, but lawmakers were unable to enact the policy change. He and Hortman have differing opinions about how quickly the issue can advance this next session, however, with Walz recently saying it would be done \u201cby May,\u201d<\/a>\u00a0while the speaker has made clear she feels it will take longer.<\/p>\n
Walz has described the issue as a top priority<\/a>\u00a0that he hopes to see advance in the legislature as \u201cone of the first items\u201d to reach his desk in the 2023 session.<\/p>\n
It seems likely that the governor will address the reform in his budget request, but it\u2019s unclear if he will go further than simply calling for implementation funding this round by including a comprehensive legislative proposal to enact legalization itself.<\/p>\n
Following their election win last month,\u00a0Democrats internally agreed to discuss the issue<\/a>\u00a0in short order. But the speaker said recently in a separate interview that she felt legalization \u201cmay well happen in the next two-year period,\u201d a much broader timeline compared to the governor\u2019s projection.<\/p>\n
State Sen. Sen. Nick Frentz (D), an assistant leader in the new DFL Senate majority, said that he believes legalization \u201cwill pass this session,\u201d though he agrees with the speaker that \u201cthere\u2019s a question of timing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Two polls released in September found that the majority of Minnesota residents\u00a0support adult-use marijuana legalization<\/a>\u2014and one survey showed that even more Minnesotans approve of the state\u2019s move to legalize THC-infused edibles that was enacted earlier this year.<\/p>\n
A\u00a0survey conducted by officials with the House<\/a>\u00a0at the annual State Fair that was released in September also found majority support for legalization. That legislature-run poll found that 61 percent of Minnesotans back legalizing cannabis for adult use.<\/p>\n
Support was up this year from 58 percent when the House Public Information Services\u00a0polled fair goers on the issue last year<\/a>. In 2019,\u00a0the House poll found 56 percent<\/a>\u00a0support for legalization.<\/p>\n
\nNew York\u2019s First Legal Recreational Marijuana Shop Will Open At 4:20 Today, Officials Announce<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
Photo courtesy of Max Pixel<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n
The post Minnesota\u2019s Outgoing House Majority Leader Will Lead Push To Legalize Marijuana In 2023 With Revised Bill<\/a> appeared first on Marijuana Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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