Minnesota House Democrats have again introduced legislation to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, but it is unlikely to move in the Republican Senate.
Kerri Miller spoke to a marijuana regulator and a drug policy researcher about decriminalizing marijuana and the steps some states are taking to address racial equity through changes to drug law.
House Democrats said they will work on a bill to legalize cannabis for recreational use after gathering input from across the state. But that doesn’t mean it’s going anywhere.
While tighter controls are needed, the Office of Legislative Auditor said it found no signs of fraud in the initial enrollment of patients in the state registry that makes people eligible to purchase medical cannabis from 16 dispensaries across Minnesota.
Minnesota regulators unveiled plans to expand the state’s medical marijuana program. MPR News host Angela Davis examines who will have access to it and what it means for the future of medical marijuana in Minnesota.
The state unveiled a plan this week to add chronic pain and an eye disease to a list of qualifying conditions. Here’s what you need to know about how the medical marijuana program has evolved — and where it might be headed.
The pursuit of pot cartridges in the U.S. has added a new layer to drug enforcement while authorities are grappling with the opioid crisis and other drug issues. The push has been fueled recently by alarm over a deadly lung illness that health officials have linked to illicit THC vaping.
Macular degeneration and chronic pain will be added next year as conditions eligible for treatment under Minnesota’s medical marijuana program. The state Health Department also said it would allow more sites where patients can access medical cannabis.
As they develop legislation to legalize marijuana, Minnesota lawmakers called in Colorado officials who did it years ago. Those officials offered advice on the best approach to implement a regulatory process, should Minnesota approve such a law.
Five years of legal recreational marijuana in Minnesota could generate $1.12 billion in sales, $300 million in tax revenue and 20,000 jobs, an industry expert estimates.