Election, Ventura comment re-ignites debate over legalizing recreational marijuana in Minnesota

(KDLM/MNN) – The debate in Minnesota has re-ignited over legalizing recreational marijuana after the 2022 mid-term election gave Democrats control of the Minnesota legislature in January.

The issue was brought to the forefront after former governor Jesse Ventura told listeners of his podcast that Governor Walz said to him that legalizing marijuana will be “one of the first” things that gets passed by the incoming state legislature.

“The governor reassured me that one of the first items that will be passed,” Ventura said. “Minnesota get ready: Cannabis is gonna have its prohibition lifted.”

Ventura proposed legalizing cannabis more than 20 years ago. He says Walz invited him to the signing ceremony when the bill becomes law.

The DFL-controlled House, with some Republican votes, passed a bill in 2021 to legalize recreational marijuana for those 21 and older. However, Senate Republicans blocked the measure, even though some members of the GOP expressed openness to further decriminalization. The bill had provisions that expunged low-level cannabis convictions, including for possessing small amounts.

After Election Tuesday, Democrats will now control both the House and the Senate. However, incoming Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic is non-committal on whether it will pass.

“Legal marijuana is very popular among Minnesotans,” said Dziedzic. “So I definitely think that we will be having that conversation.”

Democrats will have only a one-vote majority in the state Senate, and some analysts say rural DFLers could balk at legalizing recreational marijuana.

Voters on Election Tuesday approved recreational marijuana use in Maryland and Missouri, signaling support gradually growing for legalization even in politically conservative parts of the country. Voters in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Arkansas on Tuesday rejected legalization.

Twenty-one states have now approved the recreational use of marijuana.