Minnesota Takes Steps Towards Legalizing Recreational Marijuana and Drug Paraphernalia Possession.

Minnesota has passed a public safety budget bill that legalizes possession of drug paraphernalia and any drug residue that might be in it. The bill also allows community-based public health programs to provide sterile needles, syringes and other injection equipment, in addition to educating people on overdose prevention and safe injection practices. The paraphernalia provisions are among an array of new policies in the bill that seek to make Minnesota’s criminal justice system less punitive and more rehabilitative, including cutting prison time for people who seek drug treatment and other services while locked up.