The push to fully legalize marijuana in Minnesota will be up for debate again this legislative session. The issue has gained momentum in the last month, with the House of Representatives passing federal legislation. It still faces opposition in the Senate. Voters in South Dakota, Montana, New Jersey, and Arizona made recreational Marijuana legal in November. “Public support is growing for legalizing and expunging criminal records for cannabis,” House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler said. Winkler will again sponsor a bill for legalization and explains there are two elements to it. “We want to create a safe, regulated marketplace where people can buy cannabis, know what they’re getting, where law enforcement knows where cannabis is coming into the community,” Winkler said. A Senate spokesperson told WCCO: “With a divided government returning to the capitol in 2021, I don’t think recreational marijuana will have a different outcome than last legislative session.” They added that this session will be focused on the budget and COVID recovery. Still, there is work going on in the background as the topic is discussed in the state, says the director of the Office of Medical Cannabis.
Mmp News Author, Medical Marijuana Program Connection, 01/04/2021 23:55:00