Minnesota Senate shoots down latest marijuana legalization attempt

Minnesota lawmakers rejected an effort to bring a marijuana legalization bill to the Senate floor for consideration on Wednesday.

The procedural vote ended with a 31-33 tally, with 41 needed to pass the motion. It failed to move forward by 10 votes.

Out of the 33 votes, 31 were Republican, with three legislators from the party not voting. One vote to strike it down came from DFL Sen. Gregory Clausen and another came from Independent Sen. Thomas Bakk, who has been caucusing with the Republican Party since leaving the DFL.

Last year, a bill to legalize adult-use recreational marijuana passed the Minnesota House of Representatives with a 72-61 vote. The vote marked the first time a legalization bill had reached the state House floor, but the effort’s companion bill died in the Republican-controlled Senate.

Wednesday’s effort by the Senate DFL would have forced a debate and vote on a legalization bill that has been stalled in committee.

“It’s something all Minnesotans are talking about, and they are speaking about it unequivocally — they are demanding we catch up with these other states and demanding we legalize cannabis now,” said DFL Sen. Aric Putnam.

Putnam also pointed out that police officers and seniors have expressed their needs for cannabis, further expressing how many people from different backgrounds have showed their support for recreational legalization. [Read more at Bring Me The News]