The state has passed a comprehensive 321-page bill to legalize marijuana, ending months of debate. Here's what you need to know:
- Who's eligible: If you're 21 or older, you can possess and use marijuana legally. The bill also establishes the Office of Cannabis Management to oversee the recreational, medical, and hemp-derived markets.
- What's legal: You can enjoy a variety of cannabis products, including flower, concentrates, topicals, edibles, and hemp-derived THC products. Home cultivation of up to eight plants per residence will be allowed starting August 1.
- Consumption rules: You can smoke or vaporize marijuana in private residences, yards, or licensed businesses/events. Multifamily housing buildings and vehicles (except for registered medical cannabis patients) are off-limits. Public consumption is a no-go.
- Packaging and labeling: Child-resistant, tamper-evident, and opaque packaging is mandatory. Edible packaging must be resealable. Labels must include key information, like the name of the cultivator/manufacturer, batch number, serving size, and warning that it's not for children.
- Business opportunities: The bill allows for various types of licenses, including cultivators, manufacturers, retailers, microbusinesses, and more. Local governments cannot ban cannabis businesses entirely, but they can limit the number of retailers.
- Taxes and revenue: Retail cannabis sales will be subject to a 10% tax rate, with additional state and local sales taxes. Revenue will be shared with local governments and used for oversight, law enforcement, public health programs, and more.
- Expungement and social equity: Misdemeanor marijuana offenses will be expunged automatically, benefiting over 60,000 individuals. Felony offenses will be reviewed by the Cannabis Expungement Board on a case-by-case basis.
So, get ready to blaze a trail into a new era Minnesota.