Minnesota Legalizes Recreational Cannabis
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Minnesota has become the 23rd US state to legalize the personal possession and use of recreational cannabis.
Governor Tim Walz signed a legalization bill on May 30, approving the legalization law, which will come into effect on August 1.
The now signed legalization bill passed through the state’s House (73 votes to 57) and Senate (34 votes to 32) in mid-May.
The bill limits possession of cannabis flower to two pounds (0.91 kilos) at home and two ounces (56.7 grams) in public. Anyone aged 21 and over in the state will also be able to grow up to eight plants (four mature) in their home.
Cannabis companies will be permitted to work with synthetic cannabinoids such as delta-8 THC.
The legal marketplace isn’t expected to launch until the first quarter of next year, however.
The bill establishes a regulatory agency, the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management, that will manage this new cannabis market with regulations, licensing, and taxation.
A Cannabis Expungement Board will be founded to oversee the automatic expungement of lower-level cannabis offenses.
Local governments will be allowed to regulate the location and manner in which cannabis businesses can operate in their jurisdictions, but, under the new bill, cities and counties will not be allowed to ban cannabis businesses altogether.
Medical cannabis has been legal in Minnesota since 2014.
