Minnesota Bill to Set Up Adult-Use Cannabis Industry Moves to Governor

The Minnesota House on Saturday passed the omnibus cannabis policy bill
that makes changes to the state’s adult-use cannabis law and will set up
the marketplace, moving it to Gov. Tim Walz (D) for his signature. The bill
passed the state Senate on May 5.

The bill creates a lower-potency hemp wholesaler license, allows
individuals with adjudicated cannabis-related sentence to be social equity
applicants, allows vendors to provide samples at cannabis events, allows
manufacturers in Minnesota to export low-potency hemp products out of the
state that aren’t compliant in Minnesota, allows testing facilities to
begin testing while in the accreditation process, and allows a beverage to
be one serving with no more than 10 milligrams of THC.

In a press release, state Rep. Nolan West (R), who collaborated with bill
sponsor state Rep. Zack Stephenson (D) on the legislation, pointed out that
Ohio legalized cannabis six months after Minnesota in 2023, but Minnesota
doesn’t yet have a licensed adult-use cannabis store.

“We could do a lot better. Thankfully, this bill does help. We have a
hopelessly convoluted regulatory system based on this fantasy that you can
create a craft cannabis market based on government regulation.” — West in a
statement

State Sen. D. Scott Dibble (D), the Senate sponsor, called the bill “a big
win” for the Senate. However, state Sen. Jordan Rasmusson (R) said promises
made in the 2023 law legalizing adult-use cannabis have fallen short and
that the bill is missing items that would protect consumers.

Among the Senate proposals that weren’t included in the agreement was label
requirements for cannabis packaging warning that children shouldn’t consume
cannabis products.

Walz signed the bill legalizing cannabis for adult use in 2023. It is
expected he will sign the legislation to update the state’s cannabis law.