Odds long, but Minnesota lawmakers to push for legalizing recreational marijuana

Some top Minnesota Democratic lawmakers are planning to make a major push in the 2020 legislative session to legalize recreational marijuana, though they acknowledged Tuesday that the bill probably won’t become law this year.

“Legalization is going to happen in Minnesota, and the question is whether it happens this year, next year, or the year after,” House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler said. “The change is coming, and we are preparing for that change by creating legislation that will address all the harms of our existing prohibition of cannabis.”

Winkler, of Golden Valley, and Senate Assistant Minority Leader Jeff Hayden, of Minneapolis, acknowledged at a news conference that they probably won’t be able to overcome strong opposition from the Senate’s Republican majority. Winkler said the bill might not even get a House floor vote, given that it may need to go through up to 23 committees for a full vetting. He said it’s “highly likely” they’ll need more than a year.

Winkler, Hayden and other Democrats have held 15 town halls across the state since September to gather information from experts and citizens. [Read more at Twin Cities Pioneer Press]