Two Marijuana Legalization Bills in Minnesota to Be Introduced

Two bills to legalize recreational marijuana in Minnesota are planned for introduction soon. Two democratic lawmakers each have recreational marijuana bills in the works. Representative John Applebaum and Representative Tina Liebling both want to legalize recreational marijuana.

Here’s where the trouble starts though, the Minnesota legislature is primarily Republican, according to Fox 9 News.  Republicans, in general, are known to be resistant to marijuana. Representative Applebaum’s bill has already gained the opposition of Governor Mark Dayton.

In Representative Applebaum’s bill, the tax revenue would help the education sector.

Applebaum said, “Ultimately, I envision a billion dollar ‘Made in Minnesota’ marijuana economy, where the products are grown by Minnesota farmers, distributed by Minnesota companies, and sold by Minnesota small business owners. Ideally, all tax proceeds would be directed towards funding Minnesota’s public schools and would result in lower taxes for Minnesota families.”

Liebling’s bill aims to aid chemical dependency and mental health. Her bill would give the decision to the voters of Minnesota. Tax revenue would be used for chemical dependency treatment, mental health education and mental health treatment.

Liebling said, “Minnesotans know that the prohibition on cannabis is costly, harmful and antiquated. Estimates of the cost of cannabis enforcement in Minnesota range from $42 million a year for possession offenses alone to $137 million a year for all cannabis arrests. Yet Minnesotans spend perhaps $700 million a year on cannabis, indirectly helping fund crime through an enormous black market. All this for a substance that – while not harmless – is far safer than alcohol. My bill would let citizens decide whether it’s time to try a different path – one already successfully paved by many other states.”

Representative Applebaum also said, “The world is changing, and Minnesotans are rightfully developing different attitudes on marijuana. Other states’ successes, along with the failed prohibition attempts of others, have validated the need for statewide conversation on legalizing the personal, recreational use of marijuana.”

No dates for hearings or further discussions are available yet; both bills must be filed first.