Minnesota Progressives Just Legalized Marijuana: Here’s Everything You Need to Know

Progressives in the Minnesota House and Senate just passed groundbreaking legislation to legalize recreational adult-use cannabis! 

In a monumental victory for Minnesotans across the state, this new law establishes cannabis for recreational use and takes crucial measures to begin to repair the legacy of racial injustice created by decades of criminalized marijuana use. 

Here’s everything you need to know about the cannabis bill:

The bill has been carefully crafted by progressives in the House and Senate to responsibly regulate the cannabis market and create a safer alternative than one that is underground. 

Under these new measures, not only will cannabis enter a regulated system, but Minnesota will see programs aimed at protecting youth, public health, and road safety and generating new tax revenue to invest in Minnesota. 

At the center of this issue is the need to reconcile with a racist history of criminalized marijuana use. Currently, a Black person in Minnesota is about 4.8 times more likely to be arrested for a marijuana charge (despite data showing that Black and white residents use cannabis at similar rates). 

To help address criminal justice inequities created by our current system, progressives proposed decriminalizing low-level cannabis use offenses so that law enforcement can focus on more serious issues. 

Rebuilding our medical marijuana system

Minnesota has had legal medical marijuana services since 2014. But the system has needed a refresh for years. The new legislation will improve access and affordability for Minnesotans who live with serious illnesses such as cancer, seizures, and chronic pain. 

Additionally, most veterans cannot access or afford medical cannabis, and no vets can legally receive it from the VA. By making cannabis legal for adults and investing in medical cannabis programs, veterans in Minnesota will have better access to a substance that can alleviate their pain and help them cope with PTSD. 

Exciting things to come for Minnesota

Congratulations, Minnesota! Now that the bill has passed through both chambers, it’s headed to a conference committee where the details will be finalized before it’s sent to Governor Walz’s desk to be signed into law.

We’ll be following the progress on this bill to keep you up to date. Sign up to stay in the know!