Minnesota Cannabis Registry Faces Unexpected Roadblocks

Unexpected roadblocks have hampered the implementation of Minnesota's new recreational marijuana law, and state officials expect it will take some time before the cannabis registry is fully operational. The landmark bill legalizing recreational marijuana last year could get some updates less than a year after it was passed and implemented in the state.

RAMSEY, Minn. -- One week from Tuesday, recreational marijuana for Minnesota 21 and older will be legal. But for years, patients enrolled in the state's medical cannabis program have faced barriers to access and affordability. ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – Since legalizing recreational marijuana use among adults over the age of 21, Minnesota has already collected data on sales and usage patterns.

The Minnesota Legislature has passed legislation legalizing adult recreational cannabis use. The bill has been approved by both the House and Senate, but there are concerns about how the state will regulate and tax the industry. From adult use to regulating the legal cannabis market, here's a look at what the Minnesota marijuana legal bill allows — and what it doesn't.

When Minnesota adds smokeable dried cannabis flower to its medical cannabis program next March, managers of the program think it could provide relief for patients who prefer this form of consumption. The Minnesota Department of Health will add irritable bowel syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder to the list of qualifying medical conditions for the state's medical cannabis program.

Patrick McClellan was thrilled when he learned that his home state of Minnesota was legalizing medical marijuana in 2014. However, he has faced challenges in accessing the medicine he needs due to limited dispensaries and high costs. The delays in implementing the recreational marijuana law have also affected medical cannabis patients like McClellan.