Minnesota’s cannabis legalization bill — HF 100 — is headed to Gov. Tim Walz’s desk, who has said he will sign it into law! Once he does so, Minnesota will become the 23rd legalization state.

After the Minnesota House of Representatives and Senate passed different versions of HF 100, legislative leaders appointed a conference committee to sort out the differences. The committee finished its work late Tuesday.

On Thursday, the House approved the final bill in a bipartisan 73-57 vote. Late last night, the Senate followed suit in a 34-32 party-line vote, with every DFL member voting yes and every Republican who was present voting “no.”

Once it becomes law, HB 100 will:

allow adults 21 and older to:

possess in public up to 2 ounces of cannabis, 8 grams of concentrate, and products with up to 800 milligrams of THC

cultivate up to eight plants, with up to four flowering and mature at home

possess up to 2 pounds of cannabis at home

provides for a variety of license types, including retailer, cultivation, transportation, events, microbusinesses, mezzobusinesses, and delivery

give regulators the authority to decide how many licenses to issue

issue licenses based on a scored process, with at least 20% of points for social equity status

allow the two existing medical cannabis businesses (which are allowed up to eight retail locations) to continue operating and to sell limited amounts of cannabis for adult-use

keep hemp-derived THC products legal, while imposing taxes and regulations

create a Cannabis Expungement Board to determine if certain cannabis convictions should be vacated, charges should be dismissed, and records should be expunged, or if the person should be resentenced to a lesser offense

impose a 10% retail tax, plus the standard 6.5% sales tax; exempting medical cannabis

establishes grant funds including to help applicants with training and funding for substance abuse disorder treatment and prevention

Possession and home cultivation would become legal on August 1. Legal sales are expected no sooner than mid-2024.

Congratulations to bill sponsors Sen. Lindsey Port (DFL) and Rep. Zach Stephenson (DFL) and to every advocate who raised their voice and worked for equitable legalization.

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Karen O'Keefe

Director of State Policies

Marijuana Policy Project

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