Minnesota Lawmakers Consider & Adjust Adult-Use Cannabis Proposals

House and Senate committees in Minnesota on Tuesday each altered adult-use cannabis legalization bills being considered by lawmakers, with the House Transportation Finance Committee tacking on an amendment to reduce the amount of cannabis individuals can keep in their homes from 5 pounds to 1.5 pounds, ABC 6 News reports. 

The Senate State and Local Government committee adopted a 142-page amendment to create distinctions between the industrial hemp industry and the adult-use cannabis industry.  

Ted Galaty, a hemp farmer and owner of Willow’s Keep Farm, told Senate lawmakers during the hearing that hemp farmers would “suffer” if lawmakers “ram” the bill through without creating separate rules for hemp and adult-use cannabis. 

State Rep. Zack Stephenson (D), the bill author, told the House committee that he would accept their amendment to reduce the amount of cannabis adults can have at home when it reaches the Commerce Committee and would encourage his colleagues to also accept the changes.   

The measure still has several committee stops before making it to the floor of either chamber for a vote.  

During the midterm elections, Democrats took control over both chambers of the state legislature and Stephenson has blamed Republicans for blocking the reforms in previous sessions. Gov. Tim Walz (D) said in January that he was “ready” to sign an adult-use cannabis bill into law.