Governor Tim Walz signs recreational cannabis bill
Governor Tim Walz signed into law the cannabis bill on Tuesday. This 300-page text authorizes adults over the age of 21 to use marijuana for recreational purposes and aims to transform the black market into regulated and authorized businesses throughout the territory of the State. This law also removes convictions for minor violations of cannabis legalization.
“We have known for too long that banning cannabis use does not work. By legalizing adult cannabis, we are growing our economy, creating jobs, and regulating the industry to keep Minnesotans safe,” Walz said. “Legalizing adult cannabis and expunging or reassessing cannabis-related convictions will strengthen communities. It's the right decision for Minnesota."
Governor Tim Walz is joined by former Governor Jesse Ventura and other supporters to soon sign the recreational marijuana bill into law. Minnesota will be the 23rd state to legalize marijuana.
The bill makes sweeping changes authorizing the legal cultivation, manufacture and sale of cannabis products. Minnesota joins the 22 states, plus Washington, where marijuana is legal.
"Minnesota may be the 23rd state to legalize cannabis, but I think we've passed the best bill in the country that Minnesotans can be proud of," said the bill's co-author. , MP Zack Stephenson (DFL-Coon Rapids).
Possession by adults 21 and over will be legal from August 1, with certain limits. Residents of Minnesota will be able to have up to a kilo of marijuana at home and a little over 50g in public. Selling without a license will remain illegal in the state.
The bill also creates a new regulatory framework for licensing companies that grow, manufacture and sell marijuana in retail dispensaries. There are 12 different business licenses a person can apply for for the adult use market, and there are additional licenses for medical cannabis.
Mr Stephenson told WCCO he expects a delay of 12 to 18 months before someone can walk into a store and buy new regulated marijuana products.
“It will take us some time to put all this in place. We will appoint people who can manage this project,” Walz said. “But I can assure the people of Minnesota that we have given this matter a lot of thought. A lot of things learned in other states are included in our way of doing things and the reflection around this legalization gives us a very good guiding principle”
Under the new law, non-criminal cannabis-related offenses will automatically be expunged and a commission will be created to look into more serious cannabis-related offenses. On August 1, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension will begin the process of automatically erasing records, according to the bill.
Former Governor Jesse Ventura, who has campaigned for the legalization of cannabis for more than two decades, was also present when the bill was signed.
“I was the spark that brought an idea to the table,” he said. “It took many years of hard work by legislators, governors, and especially Governor Walz, to get to where we are today.
According to Ventura, education has shifted the debate over marijuana legalization, especially in Minnesota.
Minnesotans have been told and now understand that cannabis (or all kinds of drugs and more) has a positive side and a negative side, but the positive side of cannabis is much more important than its side. negative,” he said.
Marijuana is still classified as a Schedule I drug, not federally legal.
