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Minnesota Inches Closer to Legalizing Recreational Marijuana

 
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Minnesota lawmakers debate and pass a bill to legalize marijuana.

a photo of a group of people holding up signs in support of legalizing marijuana. one sign reads "legalize it, minnesota!" and another reads "end the war on drugs." the group appears to be diverse in age and race.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota is inching closer to joining a growing list of states to legalize marijuana, as the state House considers a bill to legalize recreational use of the drug. The bill would allow adults over the age of 21 to purchase and consume cannabis products, and it would create a new Office of Cannabis Management to oversee the industry.

Legislators in the Minnesota House of Representatives debated the marijuana legalization bill until just after midnight Tuesday before passing it early Wednesday morning. The bill now heads to the Senate, where it is expected to face opposition from some lawmakers.

Minnesota is on the cusp of joining nearly two dozen other states that have legalize recreational marijuana for adults. Supporters of the bill argue that it will generate revenue for the state and reduce the number of arrests for non-violent drug offenses. Critics of the bill say that it will lead to increased drug use and addiction.

With Minnesota edging closer to legalizing recreational marijuana, legislators for and against the bill made their voices heard ahead of a vote. Advocates for legalization argue that it will create jobs and help address racial disparities in drug enforcement. Opponents of the bill say that it will harm public health and safety.

After a three-hour debate late Monday, the Minnesota House is expected to pass a bill Tuesday legalizing marijuana, and the Senate is expected to take up the issue in the coming weeks. If the bill is signed into law, Minnesota would become the 23rd state to legalize recreational marijuana.

Product Reviews: N/A Learn: A bill to legalize marijuana in Minnesota has been approved in its 12th House committee, with more still to come as a Senate companion bill is being considered. The proposal would allow adults aged 21 or older to buy and possess up to 1.5 ounces of marijuana and grow up to eight plants at their residence. It would also create the Office of Cannabis Management to regulate the industry, as well as establish a social equity program to help communities disproportionately affected by the war on drugs.

The bill is the result of years of effort by advocates and lawmakers, who argue that legalizing marijuana will create jobs and generate revenue for the state. Supporters also say that it will help address racial disparities in drug enforcement, as Black Minnesota are nearly five times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possess than white Minnesota.

Opponents of the bill say that legalizing marijuana will lead to increased drug use and addiction, and that it will harm public health and safety. Some lawmakers have also expressed concern about the potential for legal marijuana to be diverted to the black market.

Industry: ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Legislation to legalize recreational marijuana for adults in Minnesota underwent a major rewrite Tuesday with the addition of new provisions aimed at making the industry more equitable. The proposal would create a new state Office of Cannabis Management, tasked with oversight. The law would allow people 21 and older to buy, possess, and use cannabis products, and it would allow for the cultivation of up to eight plants per household.

The new provisions of the bill include a social equity program to help communities disproportionately affected by the war on drugs, as well as provisions to ensure that small businesses and minority-owned businesses have a fair shot at entering the industry. The bill also includes measures to prevent the diversion of legal marijuana to the black market.

If the bill passes, Minnesota would become the 23rd state to legalize recreational marijuana. The industry is expected to generate millions of dollars in revenue for the state, as well as create thousands of jobs. However, some lawmakers and law enforcement officials have expressed concern about the potential for increased drug use and addiction, as well as the potential for legal marijuana to be diverted to the black market.

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