Washington, D.C.--Minnesota's Democratic Governor, Tim Walz, enacted a bill on Tuesday legalizing the use of recreational marijuana in the state. This move marks Minnesota as the 23rd state to legalize adult-use cannabis and the third in the Midwest region.
According to a CNN report, Governor Walz, during the signing ceremony, stated, “What we know right now is prohibition does not work. We’ve criminalized a lot of folks. We’re going to start the expungement process on those records. We have a situation where buying cannabis on the streets is dangerous.”
The bill passed with bipartisan support in the state's Democratic-led House and Senate chambers after several months of review since its introduction in January.
The report noted that the new law, effective August 1, allows Minnesota residents aged 21 and above to possess up to two ounces of marijuana flower in public and two pounds at home. It also provides individuals with marijuana convictions the opportunity to delete their records for low-level convictions automatically. It establishes a review board for higher-level offenses.
The legislation additionally creates an Office of Cannabis Management to regulate and sell cannabis products within the state.
“This bill creates a safe, well-regulated legal marketplace, and includes best practices for consumer protection, health, and public safety,” said in a news release ahead of the final passage, Democratic state Rep. Zack Stephenson, the bill’s sponsor. “It also prioritizes a robust expungement program, so people who have been disproportionately impacted by our current cannabis laws can move on with their lives. It is time for legalization, and I’m proud to carry this bill forward.”
The report noted that Stephenson cautioned that the changes would not occur instantly, expecting licensed dispensaries in up to 18 months and noting the potential years-long process to delete "tens of thousands" of past cannabis convictions.
As per the report, Governor Walz has recently authorized other progressive measures, including legislation to restore voting rights for convicted felons and codify abortion rights into state law. The legalization of marijuana continues this trend.
Learn more in the full CNN report.