Minnesota Senate Approves Recreational Marijuana Legalization Bill

The Minnesota Senate has passed a bill legalizing adult-use marijuana, which will now enter final negotiations with the Minnesota House. The bill sets up a structure for growing and selling cannabis while revisiting convictions for past drug crimes. The Senate Republicans opposed the bill, citing concerns over substance abuse, highway safety, and the ability to crack down on illicit sales. The bill would allow people at least 21 years old to possess, use, and purchase marijuana legally this summer, but dispensaries may not be up and running until 2024. The bills also diverge on the speed of expungements of past marijuana offenses.