Minnesota House expected to pass bill legalizing recreational cannabis

KTTC reports

A historic vote is happening at the Minnesota State Capitol on Thursday afternoon.

The Minnesota House, controlled by the DFL Party, is expected to pass a bill legalizing recreational marijuana.

The measure, HF 600, has gone through 12 House committees over the last few months. Some House Republicans have supported it.

Currently, marijuana is only legal in Minnesota for medical purposes. Since 1976, the drug has been decriminalized for possession or sale of less than 42.5 grams. Per Minnesota state law, possession or sale of a larger amount results in a felony charge.

The legislation would automatically expunge the records of those with non-violent misdemeanor marijuana convictions.

Racial justice is a focal point in Democrats’ arguments supporting legalization.

House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler (DFL-Golden Valley) authored the bill and has been leading the effort. During an April House committee hearing, he said the bill “is in recognition of the major racial disparities in how our current drug laws are enforced.”

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Actions

House

02/01/2021	Introduction and first reading, referred to Commerce Finance and Policy pg. 275 Intro
02/22/2021	Committee report, to adopt as amended and re-refer to Labor, Industry, Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy pg. 524a
02/25/2021	Committee report, to adopt as amended and re-refer to Workforce and Business Development Finance and Policy pg. 595a
03/08/2021	Committee report, to adopt as amended and re-refer to Agriculture Finance and Policy pg. 835a
03/25/2021	Committee report, to adopt as amended and re-refer to Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy pg. 1343a
03/25/2021	Joint rule 2.03, Deadlines, re-referred to Rules and Legislative Administration pg. 1346
03/25/2021	Committee report, to adopt and re-refer to Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy pg. 1356
03/25/2021	Joint rule 2.03 waived pg. 1356
04/13/2021	Committee report, to adopt as amended and re-refer to Judiciary Finance and Civil Law pg. 3711a
04/15/2021	Committee report, to adopt and re-refer to State Government Finance and Elections pg. 4020
04/20/2021	Committee report, to adopt and re-refer to Education Finance pg. 5624
04/26/2021	Committee report, to adopt and re-refer to Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Finance and Policy pg. 6764
04/29/2021	Committee report, to adopt as amended and re-refer to Health Finance and Policy pg. 6852a
05/03/2021	Committee report, to adopt and re-refer to Taxes pg. 6904
05/06/2021	Committee report, to adopt as amended and re-refer to Ways and Means pg. 6915a
05/10/2021	Committee report, to adopt as amended pg. 6940a
05/10/2021	Second reading pg. 7001
05/11/2021	House rule 1.21, placed on Calendar for the Day Thursday, May 13, 2021 pg. 7012
05/13/2021	Amended
05/13/2021	Third reading as amended