On Tuesday, Gov. Tim Walz signed the cannabis legalization bill into law, officially making Minnesota the 23rd state in the nation to legalize recreational cannabis. This marks a significant milestone as Minnesota legalizes recreational cannabis.
During the signing ceremony, Walz emphasized that prohibition has proven ineffective. He and other lawmakers are initiating the expungement process for eligible Minnesotans. Walz asserted that adults should have the autonomy to make decisions about cannabis use.
“We’ve long known that prohibiting cannabis use doesn’t work. Legalizing adult-use cannabis expands our economy, creates jobs, and regulates the industry to ensure Minnesotans’ safety,” Walz stated. “Legalizing adult-use cannabis and expunging cannabis convictions will strengthen communities. This is the right step for Minnesota.”
The 300-page bill allows adults over 21 to use recreational cannabis and aims to transform the illicit market into regulated, state-licensed businesses. It establishes a regulatory framework to license businesses for cultivating, manufacturing, and selling cannabis at retail dispensaries. There are 12 different business licenses available in the recreational market, along with additional licenses for medical cannabis.
The legislation also addresses low-level cannabis convictions by automatically expunging non-felony cannabis offenses and creating a board to review more serious crimes. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension will begin clearing records automatically on Aug. 1, as outlined in the bill.
Designed with social equity in mind, the bill grants social equity status to military veterans or active service members denied honorable status due to a cannabis offense, farmers from underrepresented communities, and residents of areas heavily impacted by cannabis enforcement.
An Office of Cannabis Management will be established to oversee the regulation and sale of cannabis products in Minnesota.
The bill permits possession of up to two pounds of cannabis in a private residence and allows limited home cultivation by adults over 21. In public, adults in Minnesota can possess up to two ounces. The legislation allows adults to grow up to eight cannabis plants at home, with a maximum of four mature, flowering plants.
Adults 21 and older will be legally allowed to possess cannabis in the state starting Aug. 1.
“While Minnesota might be the 23rd state to legalize cannabis, I believe we’ve passed the best bill in the country that Minnesotans can be proud of,” said bill co-author Rep. Zack Stephenson, DFL-Coon Rapids, told WCCO.
Stephenson also mentioned that it could take 12 to 18 months before residents and visitors can purchase recreational cannabis products in stores. He noted that the state will need to staff positions to manage the new system, while assuring Minnesotans that lawmakers have carefully considered the bill and its implementation.
As the legislation progressed, it attracted significant attention earlier this year. More than two dozen legislative committees reviewed the bill, with the Minnesota House of Representatives and Senate approving separate versions in late April. A conference committee reconciled the differences, and the consensus bill was approved by the House on May 18 and by the Senate on May 20, before heading to Walz’s desk for his signature.
The newly passed legislation aligns with the views of most Minnesotans. A recent poll from KSTP-TV and SurveyUSA found that 64% of registered voters support legalizing cannabis for adults. Minnesota legalized medical cannabis in 2014.
