The Minnesota cannabis legalization bill now clears the twelfth and final House Committee. It will now advance to the House floor.

It has been a long road to make it to a floor vote. The bill has made its way through 12 panel hearings and votes.

House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler (D), Speaker Melissa Hortman (D), and other lawmakers sponsor the measure. It will allow adults 21 and over to purchase and possess up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis. People will also be able to cultivate up to eight plants. Four of which can be mature.

On Friday, the members of the Ways & Means committee passed the Minnesota cannabis legalization bill in a 16-10 vote.

The legislature is set to adjourn on May 17. Previously, Winkler said that he expects a floor vote this month in May. But it has yet to be scheduled.

The bill will help correct some of the wrongs that have been done in Minnesota “to communities who’ve been over-policed who have been targeted for cannabis enforcement to further a prohibition of cannabis that does not work,” Winkler said in opening remarks.

“Legalizing and creating a safe marketplace by taxing cannabis and using the proceeds from those taxes to pay for cannabis regulation to help invest in a cannabis industry” would reflect “the values of Minnesotans and help to address the harm that is caused by cannabis prohibition on our black and brown communities.”

Previously the bill passed through the House Taxes committee in a 12-6 vote.

Amendments from the 12th Committee

The panel adopted an amendment from Winkler that will expand the definition of social equity applicants. It will now include those from communities disproportionately impacted by prohibition and make changes to how regulators will address rule violations by businesses. It will also revise the amount of funding for various state agencies.

Another proposal that passed the committee will require more information on the label. It will require that the label on cannabis products include information about the maximum does that experts consider safe within a 24-hour period.

The Future of the Legislation

If the bill makes its way through the House and to the Senate, it will have an uphill battle to pass.

In the Republican-controlled Senate, lawmakers have indicated that they are more interested in revising the existing medical cannabis program. As opposed to enacting the legalization of adult-use cannabis.

As part of the legislation, social equity will be a priority. The legislation will ensure large corporations cannot monopolize the market. It will also ensure diverse licensing. Another step it will take is to expunge prior marijuana records.

On-site consumption and cannabis delivery services will be legal. In addition to this, the bill will prohibit local municipalities from banning or prohibiting marijuana businesses from operating in their areas.

The retail cannabis sales will have a 10 percent tax. A portion of the revenue will go towards funding a grant program designed to promote economic development and community stability.

The retail sales for cannabis would launch on December 31, 2022.

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