Minnesota Senate passes marijuana legalization bill!!!
Another State Legalizes Recreational Marijuana!!!!!
Minnesota Senate passes marijuana legalization bill, bringing it closer to law than ever before
The Senate bill must be reconciled with House legislation that passed earlier this week.
By Ryan Faircloth Star Tribune APRIL 28, 2023 — 4:45PM
GLEN STUBBE/STAR TRIBUNE
Gallery: Sen. Lindsey Port, DFL-Burnsville, center, author of the marijuana bill, and other senators and staff including Sen. Clare Oumou Verbeten, DFL-St. Paul and Sen. Grant Hauschild, DFL-Hermantown, left, after the votes were counted and the bill passed Friday at the State Capitol in St. Paul.
The Minnesota Senate cast its first vote to legalize recreational marijuana Friday, pushing the proposal closer to becoming law than ever before.
Senators passed the DFL-led marijuana bill on a 34-33 vote, with all Democrats voting for it and all Republicans opposed. The House approved its marijuana bill Tuesday. The bills now head to a conference committee where their differences must be reconciled in a final version.
"Minnesotans are ready. Attitudes are changing. Now is our time to undo decades of ineffective and damaging prohibition," said Sen. Lindsey Port, DFL-Burnsville, who sponsored the marijuana bill and wore a bright green suit to commemorate Friday's vote.
Republicans argued that legalizing marijuana will do more harm than good, leading to worse rates of addiction and traffic fatalities.
"This bill simply isn't enough. Not enough for public safety, not enough for public health, and our local governments are really, really at the bad end of the stick of this," said Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks.
DFL Gov. Tim Walz has said he will sign a marijuana bill if it reaches his desk. Once the two bills are merged, the House and Senate will hold final votes on the compromise version.
Both bills would allow Minnesotans 21 and older to buy up to 2 ounces of cannabis flower, 8 grams of concentrate and 800 milligrams worth of edible products at one time. Adults could also grow up to eight cannabis plants at home.
