Today, the Minnesota Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee approved a measure to allow tribal medical marijuana patients to purchase from state-licensed dispensaries while strengthening protections for medical cannabis users.
The bill, sponsored by State Senator Scott Dibble (D), would allow patients enrolled in tribal medical cannabis programs to purchase marijuana from licensed dispensaries across the state. It also allows registered caregivers to cultivate cannabis on behalf of medical marijuana patients if the patient assigns them that right. The measure has been advanced to the Health and Human Services Committee.
Under the proposed changes, businesses with a medical marijuana retail endorsement would be authorized to distribute medical cannabis to tribal patients, provided they verify enrollment in a recognized tribal program. Additionally, the bill clarifies that individuals on parole or supervised release cannot face sanctions solely for participating in a state or tribal medical cannabis program.
The legislation also protects registered patients from discrimination in employment, housing, and education but allows exceptions for schools and landlords if compliance would cause them to lose federal benefits.
Minnesota legalized recreational marijuana in 2023, allowing adults to possess and cultivate limited amounts of cannabis. The state’s medical marijuana program, established in 2014, has undergone multiple expansions, including the 2021 approval of smokable cannabis products.
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