Legalizing cannabis is now at the top of the docket for the Minnesota Senate.
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Legalizing cannabis is now at the top of the docket for the Minnesota Senate. The bill is likely to pass with a vote expected some time Friday. It's very similar to the one the House passed earlier this week, but with some slight differences.
The Senate's version includes a 10% tax on cannabis products -- 2% higher than what was passed in the House. This bill also allows people to have up to 5 pounds of cannabis in their home, whereas the House limits it to 1.5 pounds.
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Local governments would also be allowed to limit the number of cannabis businesses under the Senate's plan. The House plan doesn't have a cap.
Expungements would also go into effect in 2025 under the Senate's bill, which is much later than the House's version that is effective this August.
Debate began Friday in the Senate. The main thing some Republican Senators have stressed is their worry over public health and public safety. They feel the bill is premature.
GOP Sens. Mark Johnson and Carla Nelson held a press conference that lasted for about a half hour. They said they worry that passing a cannabis bill at the state level takes control away from local leaders about how they want to regulate cannabis sales.
Another issue they foresee is putting more pressure on police when it comes to ensuring public safety, especially when it comes to people potentially driving under the influence of marijuana.
"Our law enforcement is against this bill. There are just too many questions about how, if, we can ensure public safety. Number one is we don't have a reliable road test," Nelson said.
They're also worried that increased marijuana use would lead to more substance abuse, and that local governments wouldn't have any control when it comes to regulating marijuana sales.
"The reality is the implications of this particular bill that's up today on the senate floor are very dire for the state of Minnesota and it's not a joking matter," said Johnson said. "The bill is simply not ready."
Supporters of the bill say those concerns are being addressed.
"It's had an enormous amount of public input and public vetting, we know the issues about public safety. We know the issues about public health," Sen. Ryan Winkler said. "To the extent that we can address those issues and put funding into local communities, funding into public health, we are doing that.
Winkler is the chairman for "Minnesota is Ready." A group that's been pushing for legalizing marijuana. He highlighted the positives of a potential cannabis law, including automatically expunging low level cannabis convictions from people's criminal records.
"This bill is ready. And Minnesota is ready for cannabis legalization. People know adults can make responsible decisions for cannabis and the system of prohibition for so long hasn't worked," said Winkler.
Once the Senate passes its version then members from both the House and Senate will have to get together to work out their differences before a final version heads to the governor's desk. Gov. Tim Walz says he intends to sign the bill once it gets there.
