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Rep. Pryor Votes ‘Yes’ to Legalizing Adult-Use Cannabis

Thursday, May 13, 2021

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed House File 600, which would legalize and regulate cannabis for adult use, and expunge the records of those convicted of nonviolent cannabis-related crimes. The legislation passed on a bipartisan vote of 72-61.

“Thursday night, the Minnesota House took historic action to legalize cannabis for adult use,” said Rep. Laurie Pryor (DFL-Minnetonka). “This comprehensive measure will help address criminal inequities, help our veterans dealing with PTSD and create a regulated market, making all communities safer.”

The adult-use cannabis bill would create a responsible regulatory structure focused on developing micro-businesses and a craft market; expunge most cannabis convictions; fund public health awareness, youth access prevention, and substance abuse treatment; provide grants, loans, technical assistance, and training for small businesses; require testing and labeling of products; restrict packaging based on dosage size; and allow limited home grow abilities.

As of Nov. 4, 2020, voters in Arizona, Montana, New Jersey, and South Dakota approved measures to regulate cannabis for adult-use, in addition to the 11 other states and 3 territories that currently allow adult-use cannabis.

House File 600 has received approval from 12 House committees, including the committees on Commerce; Labor, Industry, Veterans and Military Affairs; Business and Workforce Development; Agriculture; Environment and Natural Resources; Judiciary and Civil Law; State Government; Education Finance; Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform; Health; Taxes; and Ways and Means.

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