Negotiators finalize details of bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Minnesota
1 year, 7 months ago

Negotiators finalize details of bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Minnesota

Associated Press  

ST. PAUL, Minn. — House and Senate negotiators wrapped up work Tuesday on the details of a bill to legalize recreational marijuana for adults in Minnesota, setting the stage for final votes in the closing days of the legislative session. It will still take staffers a day or two to prepare the final bill language, the Democratic chairs of the cannabis conference committee, Rep. Zack Stephenson, of Coon Rapids, and Sen. Lindsey Port, of Burnsville, said as they closed out their final meeting. The House approved it 69-63 early Tuesday, but the more important test came in the Senate, where the one-seat Democratic majority held together on 34-33 vote late Friday, Other provisions in the bill include a pathway for convicted adult felons to shave time off their sentences as an incentive for them to complete individualized rehabilitation plans in prison. Republicans denounced the program as a “get out of jail free card.” The bill also includes new juvenile justice initiatives with an added emphasis on rehabilitation, early intervention and restorative justice.

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History of this topic

Recreational marijuana backers can gather signatures for North Dakota ballot initiative
7 months, 4 weeks ago

Recreational marijuana backers can gather signatures for North Dakota ballot initiative

Associated Press  

BISMARCK, N.D. — A North Dakota ballot initiative group can gather signatures to put a proposal legalizing recreational marijuana to a statewide vote in the fall, the state’s top election official said Thursday, in the latest legalization effort in the conservative state. “We spend too many resources, we spend too much money, we criminalize behavior that’s more benign than alcohol …

Minnesota governor signs bill legalizing recreational marijuana starting in August
1 year, 6 months ago

Minnesota governor signs bill legalizing recreational marijuana starting in August

Associated Press  

ST. PAUL, Minnesota — Surrounded by dozens of cheering people in green clothes, Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill Tuesday to legalize recreational marijuana for people over the age of 21 starting in August, making Minnesota the 23rd state to legalize the substance for adults. “For me personally, it’s very wonderful to see a dream of yours over …

Minnesota lights up! Lawmakers make the land of 10,000 lakes 23rd state to legalize ‘recreational marijuana’
1 year, 7 months ago

Minnesota lights up! Lawmakers make the land of 10,000 lakes 23rd state to legalize ‘recreational marijuana’

Hindustan Times  

In a groundbreaking move, Minnesota has joined the ranks of states embracing the legalization of recreational marijuana. Senators in the state passed a bill over the weekend, making Minnesota the 23rd state to allow adults over the age of 21 to partake in the use of cannabis for recreational purposes. House and Senate cannabis bill authors Rep. Zack Stephenson and …

Minnesota bill legalizing recreational pot passes Senate, heads to governor’s desk
1 year, 7 months ago

Minnesota bill legalizing recreational pot passes Senate, heads to governor’s desk

Associated Press  

MINNEAPOLIS — Senators in Minnesota passed a bill Saturday that would allow recreational marijuana use by people over the age of 21 and make it the 23rd state to legalize the substance for adults. Supporters of the bill said it would improve public health and safety and further social justice, while opponents said health and safety would actually worsen. People …

Minnesota Legislature shapes budget bills as deadline looms
1 year, 7 months ago

Minnesota Legislature shapes budget bills as deadline looms

Associated Press  

Minn. — The Minnesota Legislature is toiling away with only two full weeks left in a productive 2023 session. GUN CONTROL The House public safety budget bill contains two gun safety proposals: a “red flag law” allowing temporary confiscation of guns from people judged to be an immediate threat to themselves or others and expanded background checks for firearms transfers. …

Senate vote puts Minnesota on path to legalizing marijuana
1 year, 7 months ago

Senate vote puts Minnesota on path to legalizing marijuana

Associated Press  

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Senate voted Friday to legalize recreational marijuana for adults, but the bill requires more work and negotiations before it can become law. There are several differences between the Senate bill and the companion version that passed the House 71-59 on Tuesday, so a House-Senate conference committee will need to resolve them before final votes …

Marijuana legalization advancing in Minnesota Legislature
1 year, 7 months ago

Marijuana legalization advancing in Minnesota Legislature

Associated Press  

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Recreational marijuana could soon be legalized and regulated in Minnesota under bills that are entering the final rounds of debate at the Legislature. “Today is a big day because we are now at the five-yard line” for legalizing cannabis, the lead author, Democratic Rep. Zack Stephenson, of Coon Rapids, said at a news conference ahead of …

Minnesota Legislature to return with much done, much to do
1 year, 8 months ago

Minnesota Legislature to return with much done, much to do

Associated Press  

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Legislature will return from its Easter-Passover break on Tuesday with a remarkably high number of bills already signed into law, but with plenty of work ahead to complete a balanced two-year budget in the six weeks before the mandatory adjournment on May 22. ABORTION Minnesota Democrats credit voter anger over last summer’s U.S. Supreme …

Delaware lawmakers give final approval to marijuana bills
1 year, 8 months ago

Delaware lawmakers give final approval to marijuana bills

Associated Press  

— The Delaware Senate gave final approval Tuesday to bills legalizing recreational marijuana use by adults in the state and authorizing the establishment of a state-licensed and regulated cannabis industry, setting up a potential battle with Democratic Gov. Buckson, however, led the opposition to the industry-creation bill that calls for state officials to issue up to 30 initial retail marijuana …

Minnesota bill to legalize marijuana gets major rewrite
1 year, 9 months ago

Minnesota bill to legalize marijuana gets major rewrite

Associated Press  

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Legislation to legalize recreational marijuana for adults in Minnesota underwent a major rewrite Tuesday with the addition of new language to regulate and protect the state’s burgeoning industry in low-potency edibles and drinkables. “It has had incredible costs for our communities, especially for communities of color.” The 142-page amendment adopted Tuesday deals extensively with regulatory and …

New Hampshire House gives initial marijuana legalization OK
1 year, 10 months ago

New Hampshire House gives initial marijuana legalization OK

Associated Press  

CONCORD, N.H. — A bipartisan bill to legalize recreational marijuana in New Hampshire passed its first big test Wednesday. Supporters hope New Hampshire will join 21 other states, including the rest of New England, in legalizing the drug, though the bill still has a long way to go. Most of the tax revenue would go toward reducing the state’s pension …

Minnesota lawmakers start down path to legalizing marijuana
1 year, 11 months ago

Minnesota lawmakers start down path to legalizing marijuana

Associated Press  

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Legislature embarked on a path toward legalizing recreational marijuana for adults Wednesday when a legislative committee held the first hearing of the year on a bill that backers say is designed to avoid the pitfalls experienced by states that have already legalized it. “Minnesotans deserve the freedom and respect to make responsible decisions about …

Walz says Minnesota Legislature could legalize pot in 2023
2 years, 1 month ago

Walz says Minnesota Legislature could legalize pot in 2023

Associated Press  

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The chances for legalizing recreational marijuana in Minnesota got a huge boost from the Democratic sweep in the state’s elections, and Gov Tim Walz confirmed Friday that he told former Gov. “He would legalize cannabis, whereas Republicans are the ones stopping it.” Interviewed on WCCO Radio on Friday, Walz confirmed the conversation and indicated that Ventura …

Minnesota House Dems hope to fully legalized marijuana after sneaking THC edible provision past their GOP colleagues
2 years, 5 months ago

Minnesota House Dems hope to fully legalized marijuana after sneaking THC edible provision past their GOP colleagues

Raw Story  

House Democrats responsible for legalizing low-dose THC products said on Tuesday the under-the-radar approach that seemingly took Republicans by surprise was a necessary gambit to fully legalizing marijuana in the future. It was an intentional step forward,” said House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, DFL-Golden Valley, who authored another bill that fully legalized marijuana but failed to gain traction in the …

Noem signs medical pot bills, placing a limit on homegrown
2 years, 9 months ago

Noem signs medical pot bills, placing a limit on homegrown

Associated Press  

— South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem on Friday signed five bills to make changes to the state’s medical marijuana laws, including putting a cap on the number of cannabis plants that medical marijuana patients can grow in their homes. South Dakota voters in 2020 enacted the law to legalize medical marijuana in the state, and Noem this year pushed for …

South Dakota House committee rejects recreational pot bill
2 years, 9 months ago

South Dakota House committee rejects recreational pot bill

Associated Press  

— South Dakota House Republicans on Monday dismissed a proposal to legalize recreational pot for adults, in a major blow to a bill that aimed to honor the will of voters. South Dakota voters passed a constitutional amendment in November 2020 to legalize recreational pot, medical marijuana and hemp. Senate Bill 3, which emerged from a legislative committee that studied …

South Dakota Senate passes bill to legalize recreational pot
2 years, 10 months ago

South Dakota Senate passes bill to legalize recreational pot

Associated Press  

— The South Dakota Senate on Wednesday passed a proposal to legalize recreational marijuana, as Republicans reasoned they should jump ahead of a campaign to legalize it on the November ballot. They have been prodded by voters, who approved by 54% a 2020 constitutional amendment, known as Amendment A, to legalize recreational pot, medical marijuana and hemp. “This bill is …

Marijuana bills stall in Virginia’s GOP-controlled House
2 years, 10 months ago

Marijuana bills stall in Virginia’s GOP-controlled House

Associated Press  

RICHMOND, Va. — As the Virginia General Assembly reaches the halfway point of this year’s session, one of the year’s most complicated issues — possible changes to the state’s new law legalizing recreational marijuana — has stalled in the GOP-controlled House. Another bill The legislation, which appeared to be the main marijuana bill offered by House Republicans, also called for …

South Dakota lawmakers craft proposal for recreational pot
3 years, 2 months ago

South Dakota lawmakers craft proposal for recreational pot

Associated Press  

— South Dakota lawmakers on Tuesday advanced a proposal to legalize recreational marijuana use for adults while repealing much of the state’s new medical marijuana law. The Adult-Use Marijuana Study Subcommittee, which has been studying the issue since June, voted to recommend a bill that would allow people over 21 to purchase up to 1 ounce of cannabis for recreational …

Medical marijuana legalization keeps advancing in NC Senate
3 years, 3 months ago

Medical marijuana legalization keeps advancing in NC Senate

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — A bill legalizing marijuana for medical use in North Carolina and developing a system to grow and sell it cleared two more legislative hurdles this week in the Senate. The Senate Health Care Committee voted for the measure on Thursday, two days after the judiciary committee approved an updated version compared to what it originally recommended in …

House passes marijuana legalization bill, sends it to Senate
3 years, 6 months ago

House passes marijuana legalization bill, sends it to Senate

Associated Press  

HARTFORD, Conn. — Proponents of legalizing the adult use of marijuana in Connecticut dodged a threatened veto on Wednesday, advancing a revamped bill that Gov. “We take the next step, as this chamber, in recognizing the war on drugs has failed us and the criminalization of cannabis was the wrong course of action for our state and for our nation.” …

Marijuana bill clears Minnesota House in historic vote
3 years, 7 months ago

Marijuana bill clears Minnesota House in historic vote

Associated Press  

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota House passed a proposal to legalize recreational marijuana use after hours of debate Thursday night in a historic vote that marked the first time either chamber has voted on legalization. The bill — which would legalize marijuana use for adults and expunge minor marijuana convictions — passed on a 72-61 vote after nearly five hours of …

Montana House advances competing bills on pot regulations
3 years, 8 months ago

Montana House advances competing bills on pot regulations

Associated Press  

— The Montana House on Tuesday advanced three competing Republican plans for regulating recreational marijuana sales after voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure last year to legalize it. The ballot measure allows for marijuana sales to begin next January and sought to divert a significant portion of that tax revenue toward conservation efforts. Under a third bill from Rep. Brad …

New York state passes bill legalising recreational cannabis
3 years, 8 months ago

New York state passes bill legalising recreational cannabis

Al Jazeera  

US state government estimates that the change could net an additional $350 million in annual tax revenues and create tens of thousands of jobs. New York state legislators have passed a bill legalising recreational cannabis, with Governor Andrew Cuomo saying he would sign the legislation into law. New York will join 14 other US states and the District of Columbia …

Governor calls special legislative session in New Mexico
3 years, 8 months ago

Governor calls special legislative session in New Mexico

Associated Press  

SANTA FE, N.M. — New Mexico Gov. Marijuana reforms have become a top political and policy priority for state Democrats after voters last year ousted several legalization opponents from the state Senate. The Democrat-led House has approved recreational marijuana legalization bills several times in recent years that emphasize support for communities hit hard by aggressive policing on drug laws. The …

Minnesota marijuana bill continues push through House
3 years, 8 months ago

Minnesota marijuana bill continues push through House

Associated Press  

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota lawmakers on Wednesday advanced a proposal that would allow recreational marijuana use for adults and automatically expunge minor convictions related to cannabis, inching the state closer toward legalization. The legislation, authored by Democratic House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, of Golden Valley, would legalize marijuana use for adults 21 and older and expunge cannabis-related misdemeanor convictions. “This bill …

Budget, smoke-outs and pot: Legislature enters its last days
3 years, 9 months ago

Budget, smoke-outs and pot: Legislature enters its last days

Associated Press  

— South Dakota lawmakers have just four more days to work out most of the details in this year’s legislative session. As deadlines loom — and issues from the budget to medical marijuana and self-defense laws remain unsettled — many lawmakers are expecting some long nights at the Capitol in Pierre. Meanwhile, House lawmakers are hoping the Senate approves $20 …

Medical pot advocates ask lawmakers for ‘compromise’
3 years, 10 months ago

Medical pot advocates ask lawmakers for ‘compromise’

Associated Press  

— Supporters of a successful ballot measure to make medical marijuana legal in South Dakota urged state lawmakers on Monday to allow users to avoid criminal charges during any delay in implementing the program. The Republican governor’s proposal to delay was another setback for pro-pot groups after they saw a voter-passed constitutional amendment legalizing recreational marijuana struck down by a …

North Dakota bill aims to control recreational marijuana
3 years, 10 months ago

North Dakota bill aims to control recreational marijuana

Associated Press  

BISMARCK, N.D. — Caught off guard by North Dakota voters’ surprise support five years ago for allowing medical marijuana, lawmakers now are developing rules to legalize the drug for recreational use as well — with heavy restrictions. North Dakota voters approved medical marijuana in 2016, and the Legislature the following year crafted regulations for the drug’s use for people who …

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