Minnesota lawmakers to introduce bill to legalize marijuana

Democratic lawmakers on Monday plan to introduce legislation to legalize the adult use of marijuana in Minnesota.

House Majority Leader Rep. Ryan Winkler, DFL-Golden Valley, and other DFLers plan to introduce a bill that would legalize cannabis, which they say will address criminal justice inequities and allow police to focus on more serious crimes.

They’ll hold a news conference on the proposed legislation at 1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 1. You’ll be able to watch it live on Facebook here.

Winkler in May 2020, during the last legislative session, introduced a bill that would legalize marijuana. That bill laid out provisions for cannabis legalization in the state, including regulations for retailers, consumers, packaging and labeling. Under the bill, an adult would be permitted to possess 1.5 ounces of cannabis in public and up to 10 pounds at a private residence.

At least 15 states – even South Dakota – and Washington, D.C., have legalized recreational marijuana, while dozens more, including Minnesota, have legalized it for medical purposes.

Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, DFL-Minnesota, in August 2020 introduced a bill that would legalize recreational marijuana on the federal level. A version of the bill passed the DFL-controlled U.S. House of Representatives in December. [Read more at Bring Me The News]