After gaining majorities in each chambers of the legislature in the course of the midterm elections, Minnesota Democrats are planning to legalize hashish for grownup use throughout this yr’s legislative session, CBS News Minnesota experiences. Rep. Zack Stephenson (DFL), the creator of a bill to implement the reforms, informed CBS Information he believes 2023 is the yr the reforms can be enacted after Republicans had blocked legalization efforts for at the very least two years.
“Hashish shouldn’t be unlawful in Minnesota. Minnesotans deserve the liberty and respect to make accountable selections about hashish themselves. Our present legal guidelines are doing extra hurt than good.” — Stephenson through CBS Information
Stephenson’s proposal would legalize hashish gross sales to adults 21 and older and permits for the expungement of low-level hashish convictions. The measure was launched on Thursday and referred to the Home Commerce, Finance, and Coverage Committee.
Final summer time, lawmakers handed a invoice legalizing low-dose hashish edibles as much as 5 milligrams of THC, though GOP lawmakers could have voted for the measure with out understanding the invoice’s full scope. A MinnPost/Embold Analysis ballot launched in October discovered 60% of Minnesotans supported the reforms. Stephenson’s proposal consists of language to implement licensing necessities and extra taxes on the now-legal edibles.
On Thursday, Gov. Tim Walz (DFL) mentioned on Twitter that he’s “prepared” to signal a hashish legalization invoice into regulation.
“It’s time to legalize adult-use hashish,” he wrote, “and expunge hashish convictions in Minnesota.”
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