(KNSI) — Lawmakers introduced a bill to legalize adult recreational use of marijuana.
The bill was written and introduced by Coon Rapids Democratic Representative Zack Stephenson, who claims the bill will “create a safe, well-regulated legal marketplace where Minnesotans can grow, sell, and buy cannabis if they choose to do so. It includes best practices for consumer protection, health and public safety.”
He says the bill is partially about providing equity in the criminal justice system.
“Critically it includes a robust expungement program so that people, and we should be very clear that has been disproportionately people of color, who have been caught in the criminal justice system due to cannabis offenses are able to move on with their lives.”
Stephenson says prohibition of the drug isn’t working.
“Our current laws are doing more harm than good. State and local governments are spending millions enforcing laws that aren’t helping anyone. Money that could be put to far better purposes. There is a better way, where we’re honest about cannabis and its impact and model our laws accordingly.”
The law would require a person to be at least 21 to buy, sell, grow, or possess marijuana. Possession would be limited to two ounces of marijuana flower at once and up to five pounds in their home. People could grow up to eight plants, with no more than four allowed to mature at a time and possess up to eight grams of cannabis concentrate and 800 milligrams of THC edibles. Use would be limited to private property. Marijuana products couldn’t be sold without a license. Violators would be subject to fines.
Current law allows edibles to be no more potent than 5 milligrams per dose and 50 milligrams per package.
The law would also establish an Office of Cannabis Management to oversee the industry. If approved, the legislation would go into effect on July 1st, 2023. The legislation got its first reading Thursday in the Commerce Finance and Policy Committee.
KNSI News has contacted Republican lawmakers for comment.
Read the proposed bill by clicking here.
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