OT: Legal Weed in MN - Coming Soon?

[Guest]

Minnesota House casts final vote to legalize recreational marijuanaA Senate vote could come Friday, potentially sending the marijuana bill to the governor's desk by the weekend.Minnesota is just one Senate vote and a governor's signature away from legalizing recreational marijuana for adults.

The DFL-controlled House voted 73-57 to legalize marijuana on Thursday night. The Senate could take up the bill as early as Friday. Pending Senate approval, the bill will head to the desk of Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, who's pledged to sign it.
The bill allows Minnesotans 21 and older to buy up to 2 ounces of cannabis flower, 8 grams of concentrate and 800 milligrams worth of edible products at a time, and possess those amounts while in public.

Adults would also be allowed to grow up to eight cannabis plants at home, though no more than four could be mature and flowering at a time.
Minnesota would become the 23rd state in the country to legalize recreational marijuana if the bill is passed by the Senate and signed by Walz. But Minnesota would be only the 11th state to allow home-growing, Stephenson said. 
Legislative negotiators finalized the marijuana legalization bill earlier this week. They set the tax rate for cannabis products at 10%, capped home possession of marijuana flower at 2 pounds and gave cities the option of limiting the number of cannabis retailers within their limits.
Rep. Nolan West, R-Blaine, said he was happy that cities were given the power to limit the number of cannabis retailers. He also praised Stephenson for including Republicans on the conference committee that finalized the marijuana bill.
"While it's not the perfect bill, it is much better than when it [first] left the House," said West, who voted for the measure.
Much Republican opposition remained, however. GOP lawmakers cited worries about possible upticks in impaired driving and teen marijuana use.
Marijuana possession would be decriminalized and home-growing would become legal on Aug. 1, Stephenson said. The state would also start working in August to expunge past marijuana convictions from Minnesotans' records.
https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-house-to-cast-final-vote-on-legalizing-recreational-marijuana/600276122/

[Guest]

@StickyBun said:

@Akvike said:

@JimmyinSD said:

@JR44 said:
I don't drink or smoke, so I don't have a lot of knowledge of either, but the question I have with it is how you do you police those who are diving under the influence? With alcohol you can test, but to my knowledge there is no way to test for it if you were to pull someone over with suspicion.  Even though legal in CA, the law is still like the open container law with alcohol, but we have people who think they are free to smoke it while driving.  

apparently just give each cop a bag of funyuns,  if they suspect somebody of driving stoned,  they offer them the funyuns,  if they accept then they must be stoned so you arrest them.

Now There---I don't partake of the Devils' Lettuce but still enjoy a bag of Funyuns sometimes so don't you be putting forth any entrapment clauses on me.

Here comes ol' Funyun breath! (nothing destroys your breath worse on Earth.....but I love them). 

I'm more of a sour cream and onion chip guy; dammit those things are sooo gooood (weed or not)!

[Guest]

@HappyViking said:

@StickyBun said:

@Akvike said:

@JimmyinSD said:

@JR44 said:
I don't drink or smoke, so I don't have a lot of knowledge of either, but the question I have with it is how you do you police those who are diving under the influence? With alcohol you can test, but to my knowledge there is no way to test for it if you were to pull someone over with suspicion.  Even though legal in CA, the law is still like the open container law with alcohol, but we have people who think they are free to smoke it while driving.  

apparently just give each cop a bag of funyuns,  if they suspect somebody of driving stoned,  they offer them the funyuns,  if they accept then they must be stoned so you arrest them.

Now There---I don't partake of the Devils' Lettuce but still enjoy a bag of Funyuns sometimes so don't you be putting forth any entrapment clauses on me.

Here comes ol' Funyun breath! (nothing destroys your breath worse on Earth.....but I love them). 

I'm more of a sour cream and onion chip guy; dammit those things are sooo gooood (weed or not)!

I could eat chips and onion dip everyday, no problem.

My wife keeps my on track otherwise I'd weigh 300 lbs. Her and going to the gym keep me in swimsuit shape.  :p

[Guest]

Ello Gov'na!  This is rolling along way faster than I thought. B) Congrats Minnesota!

https://www.inforum.com/news/minnesota/minnesota-senate-sends-legal-marijuana-to-governors-desk
Minnesota Senate sends legal marijuana to governor's desk




After years of advocacy and a marathon of hearings and votes, recreational marijuana bill heads to governor's desk.

By
Alex Derosier
Today at 8:51 AM

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News reporting

ST. PAUL — A bill legalizing recreational adult-use cannabis is on its way to becoming Minnesota law.
The
Minnesota Senate early Saturday morning, May 20, approved a final
version of a bill that will allow marijuana possession for people 21 and
older, expunge marijuana conviction records and create a new regulatory
plan for the substance.
After years of advocacy at the Capitol,
more than 30 committee hearings since January and two votes in both the
House and Senate, the bill is now ready for a signature from Gov. Tim
Walz, who supports legalization. Following the governor's signature, it
would go into effect Aug. 1.
The bill's second-to-last stop was
the Senate, which passed the bill on a 34-32 party-line vote. The House
passed the same bill Thursday with three Republicans joining Democrats
in a 73-57 vote.
Backers of legalization have not touted marijuana
as a big money maker for the state, but instead point to the unequal
outcomes for different groups in society, particularly racial and ethnic
minorities, and wasted law enforcement resources as a reason to end
prohibition.

Plus, whether or not pot is legal, people continue to buy, sell and use it. Regulation is the best option, supporters say.

"The system that we have right now is not working; it's not achieving
any of the goals we're setting out for," said Senate bill sponsor
Lindsey Port, DFL-Burnsville. "If we had a way to solve this with law
enforcement we would have done it, so it's time to try something new."
Opponents of legalization have raised concerns about road safety, as there is no current field test for marijuana impairment.
They
also worry about marijuana’s impact on younger people’s mental health,
and have proposed raising the minimum age to possess and use the
substance to 25.
"The synapses of these immature brains under 25
... are very sensitive to harm from this stuff," said Sen. Jim Abeler,
R-Anoka, pointing out how contemporary cannabis has become far more
potent than what was available decades ago. "I want to remind you that
the ill effects of this are not unforeseen, and it's not just some old
guy warning you not to go have fun and enjoy your youth."
While
some legalization proponents have acknowledged studies showing human
minds do not fully mature until 25, they find that limit unrealistic
given the legal age of 21 to buy alcohol.
GOP lawmakers have also
questioned selection criteria for granting marijuana distribution
licenses based on “social equity scores.” DFL lawmakers said they
proposed that system as a way to distribute the benefits of the new
industry in communities where drug laws did the most harm.
Under
the legalization bill headed to become Minnesota law, adults could
possess 2 ounces or less of cannabis in a public place, and 2 pounds or
less in a residence. Individuals would be able to possess edibles with a
total of 800 milligrams or less of THC, the psychoactive component of
cannabis.

[Guest]

Home growers will be able to have eight plants, four or fewer of which could be mature, flowering plants.
The
legalization bill also would automatically expunge petty misdemeanor
and misdemeanor marijuana convictions from records. A new Cannabis
Expungement Board would review felony cases and determine whether a
record should be cleared or if the person should be resentenced.




Legalization would create new licenses for cultivators,
retailers, wholesalers and other parts of the cannabis business. An
office of cannabis management created by the bill would regulate the
production and sale of cannabis products in the state as well as the
state medical cannabis program.
Sales of cannabis products would carry a 10% state tax on top of the existing 6.875% state sales tax.
The
bill would provide nearly $80 million in the next two years for new
regulations and other legalization-related programs. It also includes
millions in funding to address concerns about high drivers by training
officers to recognize signs of marijuana intoxication.
While the
law would go into effect in August, it will take a year or longer for
the new regulations and licensing to go into effect, meaning new
dispensaries wouldn't be able to open well after legalization.
THC-containing
edibles made legal in Minnesota last July also would fall under new
regulations. Sellers of the low-dosage edibles currently legal in the
state would need to apply for a license.
Local governments will
have a say in regulating marijuana, including the number of businesses
allowed in a community. Many municipalities were concerned they wouldn’t
have enough control over how marijuana businesses could operate and
eventually got more control in the bill's final version.

In addition to local control, 20% of revenue from cannabis will
go to local government aid in regulating the substance. The rest goes
to state regulation.

[Guest]

why would anybody go buy it from a licensed dealer and pay 16% tax ( and likely more because the dealer has to pay for a license as well as likely a store front)  when their current supply situation is tax free and has been working just fine for them.  Its not like its been a challenge for anybody the last 60 years to find pot has it?

[Guest]

@JimmyinSD said:
why would anybody go buy it from a licensed dealer and pay 16% tax ( and likely more because the dealer has to pay for a license as well as likely a store front)  when their current supply situation is tax free and has been working just fine for them.  Its not like its been a challenge for anybody the last 60 years to find pot has it?

Convenience, I live in a state where it's legal and can't count the times I have been out running errands etc and just decided to stop in and pick up some gummies or weed. Yes I obviously partake. 

[Guest]

@1VikesFan said:

@JimmyinSD said:
why would anybody go buy it from a licensed dealer and pay 16% tax ( and likely more because the dealer has to pay for a license as well as likely a store front)  when their current supply situation is tax free and has been working just fine for them.  Its not like its been a challenge for anybody the last 60 years to find pot has it?

Convenience, I live in a state where it's legal and can't count the times I have been out running errands etc and just decided to stop in and pick up some gummies or weed. Yes I obviously partake. 

@1VikesFan - That's a good insight right there. I never would have thought of that living in MN my adult life. 

In regards to Jimmy's point; I have no idea what will happen to supply chain and pricing. 

What I can't see is local black market guy or gal keeping their prices where they are today if they see a chance to raise em.

IOW if I am selling 1/4 oz weed today at 100 and that stuff is going to be $165 at the dispensary will I keep my blackmarket stuff at $100 or maybe bump it to 130 or more?

I dont even know how easy or difficult it will be for the black market to get their supply in 2 years? Maybe easier? Who knows???

As someone who also partakes, I might find a little more peace of mind regarding product safety sourcing from a dispensary.

Labeling for cannabis products will vary somewhat depending on the type of product, but they will generally be required to identify the name and license number of the cultivator or manufacturer, the batch number, symbols identifying it as cannabis, a warning that the product is not for children and the phone number of the Minnesota Poison Control hotline. Cannabis flower labels must also include the net weight and the amount of cannabinoids. Labels for edible products must include the serving size, the net weight of the product, all ingredients and the amount of cannabinoids it contains per serving.

[Guest]

@JimmyinSD said:
why would anybody go buy it from a licensed dealer and pay 16% tax ( and likely more because the dealer has to pay for a license as well as likely a store front)  when their current supply situation is tax free and has been working just fine for them.  Its not like its been a challenge for anybody the last 60 years to find pot has it?

Mainly I'm excited about not worrying about getting busted for pot. Just glad it's legal, and hopefully the stigma of pot use just goes away.

[Guest]

@HappyViking said:

@JimmyinSD said:
why would anybody go buy it from a licensed dealer and pay 16% tax ( and likely more because the dealer has to pay for a license as well as likely a store front)  when their current supply situation is tax free and has been working just fine for them.  Its not like its been a challenge for anybody the last 60 years to find pot has it?

Mainly I'm excited about not worrying about getting busted for pot. Just glad it's legal, and hopefully the stigma of pot use just goes away.

Honestly I know a lot of people that smoke weed or ingest weed products and none of them still buy illegally. Everyone uses dispensaries. The products are quality guaranteed, which is one thing most people appreciate.