Dear Neighbors,

At the Capitol, we continue to work on enacting a new two-year state budget that invests in Minnesota’s future beyond COVID-19. The past year has been a challenge for many Minnesotans, especially workers, students, families, and small businesses. It’s important we prioritize their ability to get beyond COVID-19 and ensure they have future opportunities to succeed. To make this a reality, we must invest in protecting what we all value, like great schools, affordable, quality health care, and economic security for all Minnesotans.

New Mask Guidance

Thursday, the CDC issued guidance that fully vaccinated individuals – people who received their final vaccine dose two or more weeks ago – no longer need to wear masks. Following the announcement, Governor Walz announced that Minnesota’s mask requirement would also end, while those not yet fully vaccinated will be recommended to continue wearing a mask. Businesses and local governments are allowed to require masks, and they will be required in schools and child care settings since most children aren’t yet eligible.

This step is another signal of the progress we’ve made toward defeating COVID-19, but we’re not fully out of the woods yet. Specifically, the percentage of people vaccinated is far lower than what’s needed to reach herd immunity. As a result of that, I encourage people to continue wearing masks around others to protect those who may remain vulnerable.

Adult-Use Cannabis

Thursday night, following a statewide tour to gather input and 13 committee hearings, the House approved legislation to legalize adult-use cannabis in Minnesota. In addition to legalizing its use, the bill would expunge records for people convicted of nonviolent offenses involving cannabis. The bill would create a responsible regulatory structure focused on developing micro-businesses and a craft market, fund public health awareness, require testing and labeling of products, restrict packaging based on dosage size, and other protections. The bill also improves upon our medical cannabis program by permitting flower to be used, allowing more Minnesotans to realize health benefits from cannabis. We’re also working on this change in the House/Senate Health and Human Services budget conference committee.

Legalizing adult-use cannabis would also advance racial equity in Minnesota. Black and white Minnesotans consume cannabis at very similar rates, yet Black Minnesotans make up just 5% of the population they represent 30% of cannabis arrests. House DFLers have taken the time to assemble a bill that delivers the type of cannabis policy Minnesotans are asking for. I’ve been a co-author of adult-use cannabis legislation in prior sessions, and was proud to support the legislation.

American Rescue Plan Funding

This funding is critical toward our state’s economic recovery now, but we need to have a vision for our state beyond COVID-19. To experience the future all Minnesotans deserve, strong, ongoing investments in schools, health care, and economic security is vital. I’ll keep advocating for them in our final days of the legislative session.

Please continue to stay in touch with your viewpoints, ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance. Thank you for the honor to work as your public servant.

Sincerely,

Jen Schultz
State Representative