House Judiciary Committee Approves Recreational Cannabis Bill

ST. PAUL, MN (MNN/KDLM) – Two House committees down and 12 to go for a bill legalizing recreational marijuana in Minnesota. The House Judiciary Committee approved the measure Thursday morning.

The bill is sponsored by Representative Zack Stephenson of Coon Rapids. He says that Minnnesota is ready for a change and that current laws are doing more harm than good.

Olmsted County Sheriff Kevin Torgerson warned that legal cannabis would result in more impaired drivers and fatal crashes.

“This bill authorizes an oral preliminary test pilot project,” Torgerson told committee members. “I ask you to delay activation, giving us the time to run the pilot project before the full legalization.”

Public safety consultant Thomas Evenstad says NORML research found that roadways are not more dangerous post-legalization.

“Most experts including myself attribute the reduction in DWI-related deaths to increased cannabis and reduced alcohol consumption for drivers on the roads in states that have legalized cannabis,” says Evenstad.

The bill now goes to the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy committee.