Science of Cannabis Professor Weighs in on New Recreational Marijuana Law

(KNSI) — Recreational marijuana use for adults 21 and over is now legal in Minnesota, but a University of Minnesota professor guiding students on the new laws says there are a lot of factors for the public to consider.

For the past few years, Peter Morrell has helped teach a class called the Science of Cannabis, with guest experts discussing issues surrounding its use as more states relax marijuana-related laws. Morrell predicts legalization won’t become a major public nuisance, such as non-users having to constantly wade through recreational users’ secondhand smoke when venturing out. “I don’t expect that we’ll see an enormous change in the culture around smoking and open-air use.”

Smoking marijuana is allowed in certain places, such as private homes, except for multi-family homes, on your own deck or patio, but it is not allowed anywhere smoking cigarettes, or vaping is prohibited. Morrell says while nobody will get a “contact high” from limited exposure, users should know cannabis smoke contains tar and other contaminants not helpful for those breathing it secondhand.

Morrell says that point is especially important when considering the effect on minors. Whether it’s young children who live in the household or teens who pick up smoking marijuana themselves, he says researchers have laid out the impact long-term exposure can have on developing brains.

“There is pretty strong evidence that marijuana exposure in young people has long-term cognitive effects – negative cognitive effects.”

Part of the law also allows for growing the plants, but Morrell warns it’s harder than people realize. “It’s also sort of famously difficult on houses to grow marijuana in the basement, because you have to elevate the humidity. And so, you end up sort of having very warm, moist air that’s not good for the structure of the house itself.”

An easy to read breakdown of what is and is not legal under the new adult use recreational marijuana law can be found by clicking here.
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MNC Reporter Mike Moen contributed to this story.

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