Every year the cannabis laws change from state to state. We understand that it can be difficult to keep up with all of the changes. Below are the most recent updates to the Minnesota Marijuana Laws. Take a closer look!
Status: Mixed
Decriminalized: Reduced
Medical: Yes
Minnesota Legislature Fails to Act on Bill to Regulate and Legalize Marijuana
Minnesota voters elected Tim Walz as their new governor in November of 2018. Walz is a supporter of the legalization of marijuana for adults, but hasn’t acted on it quite yet. The bill to regulate and legalize cannabis for adults was submitted to the Senate and House, but unfortunately didn’t advance before adjourning in May of 2019.
With the Republican caucus opposed to the legalization of cannabis for adults, it may be difficult for the bills to pass in the Senate.
In order to help these bills pass, it’s going to take organization and lobbying efforts from the citizens of Minnesota. The lawmakers must hear from it’s locals, and understand that their constituents want this war on marijuana ended.
If you want to learn more about how you can help Minnesota act, you can check their plan to regulate here!
Medical Marijuana in Minnesota Expands; Still Remains Flawed
The governor of Minnesota in 2014, Mark Dayton, signed the medical cannabis program into law. The program needed to be modified, considering the cost of medical cannabis was through the roof.
During the first year of the program, a majority of patients, 92% actually, reported that their treatment was beneficial. 67% reported that the medical marijuana helped them a great deal. However, after the first 6 months, a majority of medical patients stopped buying their marijuana from dispensaries. This was because most of those purchasing the cannabis felt that it was way too expensive, making purchasing cannabis extremely prohibitive.
Since 2014, the medical program has expanded, adding pain, PTSD, autism, and sleep apnea to the list of qualifying conditions. Currently, Minnesota is considering adding Alzheimer’s Disease, Arthritis, panic disorders, brain injuries, psoriasis, and opioid use to their expanding list.
Even with expansions, and updates to the medical marijuana program, it still need work. As of now, Minnesotas medical program is one of the only that does not allow the consumption of flower. As of now, the state only allows extracts, which can be more expensive, and less effective. Not only that, but their are only two dispensaries in Minnesota, which can lead to high prices and shortages on products.
In order to make Minnesota’s program better, they need to work on getting licensing for businesses to sell cannabis, and add flower to their list of available products.
You can connect with Sensible Minnesota, to help change the medical program in the future!
Stay tuned for more updates on the Minnesota Marijuana Laws!
