Legislation to legalize marijuana for everyone 21 and older has been filed in the Minnesota Legislature.

House Bill 100 “would set up a regulatory framework and permit cannabis use for any reason for people 21 and older”. It was filed by Representative Zack Stephenson along with 27 cosponsors, all Democrats. It has been referred to the House Commerce Finance & Policy Committee.

“Cannabis should not be illegal in Minnesota,” says Rep. Stephenson. “Minnesotans deserve the freedom and respect to make responsible decisions about cannabis themselves. Our current laws are doing more harm than good. State and local governments are spending millions enforcing laws that aren’t helping anyone.”

In addition to legalizing marijuana the bill would expunge low-level cannabis convictions, which proponents say is an issue of equity given that minority residents are disproportionately arrested and charged for marijuana-related crimes.

“We designed this bill to address the wrongs of prohibition, to bring people out of the illicit market and into a regulated market, which means that we tried to not have a really high tax on cannabis so that it can compete,” says Representative Aisha Gomez, another of the bill’s cosponsors.

“I believe 2023 will be the year we legalize adult-use cannabis,” says Rep. Stephenson.

Governor Walz agrees, stating in a Tweet: “It’s time to legalize adult-use cannabis and expunge cannabis convictions in Minnesota. I’m ready to sign it into law”.