On Wednesday, March 21, HF 600 cleared a fourth House committee. The bill, which would legalize cannabis in Minnesota, is now one step closer to a floor vote in the chamber.
Last month house majority leader Ryan Winkler (D), speaker Melissa Hortman (D), and other lawmakers filed the measure. The bill would allow adults 21 and older to purchase and possess up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis. It would also allow them to cultivate up to eight plants, of which four could be mature.
After the House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee heard testimony from advocates and stakeholders, lawmakers voted 8-5 to advance the legislation.
The bill has already moved through the Labor, Industry, Veterans, and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Committee. It has also moved through the Commerce Finance and Policy Committee, along with the Workforce and Business Development Finance and Policy Committee.
During the hearing on Wednesday, the panel approved an amendment that refines the definition of hemp. The amendment clarifies how regulators will handle violations of the statute.
From Marijuana Moment, “Legalization of adult-use cannabis is coming to Minnesota one time or another,” Winkler said. “The question is not whether we are able to stop the trend. The question is whether we are well-prepared to do this right from the beginning.”
Next, the legislation will head to the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance Committee.
What is in the Bill?
The bill will prioritize social equity. As a result, the bill will automatically expunge records for people with cannabis charges. One of the goals for this legislation is to ensure diverse licensing. Corporate businesses will have regulations placed on them to prevent monopolies.
Lawmakers will ban local municipalities from prohibiting cannabis businesses from operating in their area. This bill will also allow cannabis delivery services and on-site consumption
There will be a 10 percent tax on retail cannabis sales. Moreover a portion of the revenue would fund a grant program designed to promote economic development and community stability.
The bill also calls for the establishment of a seven-person cannabis management board. They would be responsible for regulating the market and issuing cannabis business licenses. People with a social justice background would also be on the board.
Social equity applications would be eligible for priority licensing. To be considered an “equity applicant” one would have to live in low-income neighborhoods or be a military veteran who lost honorable status due to a cannabis-related offense.
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