Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed a bill on Tuesday legalizing the recreational use of marijuana in the state, according to a CNN Report. With this move, Minnesota becomes the 23rd state to legalize cannabis for adult use, and the third state in the Midwest to do so.
“Criminalizing cannabis hasn’t worked. By legalizing it for adult use, we’re expanding our economy, creating jobs, and regulating the industry to keep Minnesotans safe,” Walz said in a Tweet. “I’m proud to have signed this bill into law.”
The bill was passed by the Democratic-led Minnesota House and Senate chambers with bipartisan support, following months of review since its introduction in January.
Under the new law, Minnesota residents who are 21 years of age or older will be allowed to possess up to two ounces of marijuana in public and up to two pounds at home, starting from August 1. The legislation also includes provisions for automatically expunging low-level marijuana convictions and establishes a review board to determine eligibility for higher-level offenses.
The bill also outlines a comprehensive framework for the regulation and commercialization of recreational marijuana. A newly established state agency, the Office of Cannabis Management, will be responsible for drafting and implementing regulations to govern the sales and distribution of cannabis products, Global Cannabis Times reported. This agency will also oversee the existing medical marijuana program, which was legalized in Minnesota back in 2014.