Friends and neighbors,
On Friday, the Senate approved a new bill that makes a number of troubling changes to Minnesota’s rushed and dangerous cannabis legalization law.
It is a misguided bill that fails to adequately protect our children and communities from the harmful effects of cannabis. Despite repeated calls from myself and fellow Republican lawmakers, there are still gaping holes when it comes to keeping cannabis away from minors and safeguarding public spaces like schools.
I want to specifically point out two amendments I offered that would have helped us keep children a little bit safer from the harmful effects of cannabis:
- One amendment would have strengthened penalties for underage cannabis sale crimes by aligning them with our underage alcohol sale laws. We recognize that a person providing alcohol to underage children for consumption is providing a dangerous product to minors. We should treat cannabis the same way.
- Another amendment would have prohibited the use or possession of cannabis within 1,000 feet of schools, except on private property. Current cannabis laws allow us to prohibit businesses from operating near schools, but that is not enough. This amendment prioritizes the safety of children above all.
Democrats rejected each of these common-sense amendments.
Two other significant issues with the bill I want to point out:
Rather than awarding cannabis business licenses based solely on merit, the Democrats have instituted a biased “social equity” system that gives preferential treatment to certain groups, including those with previous cannabis-related criminal convictions.
Finally, the bill strips local municipalities of their ability to prohibit cannabis businesses from operating within their jurisdictions. Cities deserve to have the final say in whether they want cannabis businesses in their communities. I offered an amendment that would put this final decision in the hands of local communities, but Democrats rejected that amendment too.
Legalizing cannabis was the wrong decision. There are volumes of research and data that make the dangers of legal marijuana crystal clear. But now that it is legalized, we have a responsibility to make sure children are protected from the consequences.
It is disappointing Democrats would not work with us to keep children safe, but we will keep pushing them to do the right thing.
If you have any questions, please let me know.
God Bless,