{"id":65535,"date":"2023-05-30T09:17:23","date_gmt":"2023-05-30T17:17:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2023\/05\/30\/minnesota-governor-signs-marijuana-legalization-bill-into-law\/"},"modified":"2023-05-31T19:48:19","modified_gmt":"2023-06-01T03:48:19","slug":"minnesota-governor-signs-marijuana-legalization-bill-into-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2023\/05\/30\/minnesota-governor-signs-marijuana-legalization-bill-into-law\/","title":{"rendered":"Minnesota Governor Signs Marijuana Legalization Bill Into Law"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

The governor of Minnesota has signed a bill to legalize marijuana, making it the 23rd state in the U.S. to end cannabis prohibition.<\/p>\n

After months of committee hearings and floor votes, Gov. Tim Walz (D) signed off on HF 100 on Tuesday, as he previously committed to doing.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis has been a long journey with a lot of folks involved,\u201d Walz said. \u201cWhat we know right now is prohibition does not work. We\u2019ve criminalized a lot of folks who are going to start the expungement process on those records.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to take us a bit of time to get this up and going. We\u2019ll be getting some people into the positions to be able to run this,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I assure Minnesotans that a lot of thought has gone into this. A lot of the things learned in other states are incorporated into how we do this, and the thoughtfulness around this legislation gives us a really good guiding principle.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Minnesota just became the 23rd state in the nation to legalize adult-use cannabis.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) May 30, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n

Now, with the governor\u2019s signature, marijuana possession and home cultivation will become legal in the state on August 1\u2014with regulators expected to take 12-18 months to get a licensed commercial sales system launched.<\/p>\n

Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura, a longstanding champion of cannabis reform who delivered impassioned testimony at legislative hearings this session about illegally obtaining medical marijuana to treat his wife\u2019s severe epilepsy<\/a>, attended Tuesday\u2019s bill signing.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was a huge day in our family\u2019s life because prohibition will now end. It\u2019s gone on longer than I\u2019ve been alive, the prohibition of a plant made by god,\u201d he said. \u201cWe were always told everything was here for us to use. Now in Minnesota we will be able to use this plant after years of prohibition.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

So excited to be joining @GovTimWalz<\/a> today to finally legalize recreational cannabis in Minnesota. Thank you to the Gov. and his staff for allowing me to witness first hand this historic moment in MN history.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Jesse Ventura (@GovJVentura) May 30, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t want any families to go through what the first lady and I went through,\u201d he said. \u201cNow, today, they will never have to because prohibition will end today on cannabis.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am delighted to be here with you as we put the period at the end of the sentence on this piece of legislation,\u201d Sen. Lindsey Port (D), the bill\u2019s Senate author, said. \u201cI am really proud that Minnesota is taking a step forward and trying something new.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re trying it in a way that is unique to Minnesota\u2014that really delves into the realities of Minnesota, that looks at entrepreneurial spirit, that looks at reinvesting in communities that have been harmed and, most importantly, that puts front and center in this legislation the expungement piece to make sure that we are undoing some of the harm that we have done as a state through the prohibition of cannabis,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\n

Rep. Zack Stephenson (D), the House sponsor, said that \u201cwhile Minnesota might be the 23rd state to legalize cannabis, I think we\u2019ve passed the best bill in the country that Minnesotans can be really proud of.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve built a model that will work for Minnesota specifically, and I think Minnesotans will be really pleased with the results of that work,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The bill signing comes just over a week after the House and Senate passed the bill<\/a>, which had been recently finalized by a bicameral conference committee.<\/p>\n

Both the House and Senate\u00a0previously passed differing versions of legalization bills<\/a> from Stephenson and Port, but they needed the conference committee to resolve differences between their respective measures before they could be reapproved.<\/p>\n

Lawmakers worked quickly to get the job done, as the legislative session ends on Monday. And the governor followed suit with a prompt signing.<\/p>\n

Even before the signing, the state began building the infrastructure for the new adult-use market\u2014first by launching a website for the cannabis regulatory agency<\/a> that will oversee the program but which won\u2019t technically be established until July, and then by releasing a notice soliciting vendors that can facilitate licensing<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Democratic-Farmer-Labor legislators are pointing to the achievement on cannabis reform as a direct result of voters putting the party in the majority in both chambers after last year\u2019s election.<\/p>\n

The legislation that advanced through both chambers is an iteration of the 2021 House-passed bill from former Majority Leader Ryan Winkler (D), who now\u00a0serves as campaign chairman of the advocacy coalition MN is Ready<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Walz has called on supporters to join lawmakers and the administration in their push legalize marijuana this session, and\u00a0he circulated an email blast in January<\/a>\u00a0that encourages people to sign a petition backing the reform.<\/p>\n

Here are the main components of the\u00a0final<\/a>\u00a0marijuana legalization bill,\u00a0HF 100<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As of August 1, adults 21 and older will be able to possess in public up to two ounces of cannabis and they will be allowed to cultivate up to eight plants at home, four of which can be mature. People can possess up to two pounds of marijuana in their residences.<\/p>\n

Gifting up to two ounces of marijuana without remuneration between adults will be permitted.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s expected to take 12-18 months for licenses to be issued and regulated sales to start. As of March 1, 2025, existing medical cannabis businesses can receive new combination licenses that would allow them to participate in the adult-use market.<\/p>\n

Certain marijuana misdemeanor records will also be automatically expunged, with implementation beginning in August. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension will be responsible for identifying people who are eligible for relief to the courts, which will process the expungements. A newly created Cannabis Expungement Board will also consider felony cannabis offenses for relief, including potential sentence reductions for those still incarcerated.<\/p>\n

In addition to creating a system of licensed cannabis businesses, municipalities and counties can own and operate government dispensaries.<\/p>\n

On-site consumption permits can be approved for events, and cannabis delivery services will be permitted under the bill.<\/p>\n

Local governments will not be allowed to prohibit marijuana businesses from operating in their areas, though they can set \u201creasonable\u201d regulations on the time of operation and location while also limiting the number of cannabis business licenses based on population size.<\/p>\n

There will be a gross receipts tax on cannabis sales in the amount of 10 percent, which will be applied in addition to the state\u2019s standard 6.875 percent sales tax.<\/p>\n

Eighty percent of revenue will go into the state\u2019s general fund\u2014with some monies earmarked for grants to help cannabis businesses, fund substance misuse treatment efforts and other programs\u2014and 20 percent will go to local governments.<\/p>\n

A new Office of Cannabis Management will be established, and it will be responsible for regulating the market and issuing cannabis business licenses. There will be a designated Division of Social Equity.<\/p>\n

The legislation will promote social equity, in part by ensuring diverse licensing by scoring equity applicants higher. People living in low-income neighborhoods and military veterans who lost honorable status due to a cannabis-related offense will be considered social equity applicants eligible for priority licensing. People convicted of cannabis offenses, or who have an immediate family member with such a conviction, will also qualify.<\/p>\n

\u2014
\nMarijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,000 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills<\/a> in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters<\/a> pledging at least $25\/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don\u2019t miss any developments.<\/strong>
\n\"\"<\/a>
\nLearn more about our marijuana bill tracker<\/a> and become a supporter on Patreon<\/a> to get access.
\n\u2014<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

The House bill was vetted by numerous committees before reaching the floor. It passed the\u00a0Ways and Means Committee<\/a>,\u00a0Taxes Committee<\/a>,\u00a0Transportation Finance and Policy Committee<\/a>,\u00a0Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee<\/a>,\u00a0Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee<\/a>,\u00a0Health Finance and Policy Committee<\/a>,\u00a0Education Finance Committee<\/a>,\u00a0Human Services Policy Committee<\/a>,\u00a0Workforce Development Finance and Policy Committee<\/a>,\u00a0Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee<\/a>,\u00a0State and Local Government Finance and Policy Committee<\/a>,\u00a0Labor and Industry Finance and Policy Committee<\/a>,\u00a0Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee<\/a>,\u00a0Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Commerce Finance and Policy Committee<\/a>\u00a0(twice<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The Senate committees that signed off on the bill are the\u00a0Finance Committee<\/a>,\u00a0Taxes Committee<\/a>,\u00a0Rules and Administration Committee<\/a>,\u00a0State and Local Government and Veterans Committee<\/a>,\u00a0Labor Committee<\/a>,\u00a0Human Services Committee<\/a>,\u00a0Health and Human Services Committee<\/a>,\u00a0Transportation Committee<\/a>,\u00a0Environment, Climate, and Legacy Committee<\/a>,\u00a0Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development Committee<\/a>,\u00a0Jobs and Economic Development Committee<\/a>,\u00a0Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Judiciary and Public Safety Committee<\/a>\u00a0(twice)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Following their election win in November,\u00a0Democrats internally agreed to discuss the issue<\/a>\u00a0imminently.<\/p>\n

A poll released last week\u00a0found\u00a0that 64 percent of Minnesota registered voters\u00a0support creating a regulated marijuana market<\/a>, including 81 percent of Democrats and a 49 percent plurality of Republicans.<\/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 last 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 in 2021<\/a>. In 2019,\u00a0the House poll found 56 percent<\/a>\u00a0support for legalization.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile in Minnesota, the House\u00a0separately passed an omnibus health bill<\/a>\u00a0last month that contains\u00a0provisions to create a psychedelics task force<\/a>\u00a0meant to prepare the state for possible legalization.<\/p>\n

And on Friday,\u00a0the governor signed large-scale legislation<\/a>\u00a0that contains provisions to legalize drug paraphernalia possession, syringe services, residue and testing\u2014a win for harm reduction advocates in the state.<\/p>\n

\n

Illinois Lawmakers Approve Bill Allowing Marijuana Businesses To Claim State Tax Deductions As Partial IRS 280E Fix<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n

The post Minnesota Governor Signs Marijuana Legalization Bill Into Law<\/a> appeared first on Marijuana Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n


\n
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The governor of Minnesota has signed a bill to legalize marijuana, making it the 23rd state in the U.S. to end cannabis prohibition. After months of committee hearings and floor votes, Gov. Tim Walz (D) signed off on HF 100 on Tuesday, as he previously committed to doing. \u201cThis hasContinue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":458,"featured_media":65536,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18,81,126],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65535"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/458"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=65535"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65535\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65537,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65535\/revisions\/65537"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/65536"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65535"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65535"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65535"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}