Minnesota’s Senate Taxes Committee has advanced a measure that will make marijuana legal for all uses, with just one more committee vote needed before it can reach the Senate floor.
Passage of SF 73 through the Taxes Committee comes the same day as the House Ways and Means Committee passed companion bill HB 100, the 15th committee to do so, allowing it to receive a forthcoming vote by the full chamber.
The legislation would legalize the personal possession of up to two ounces of marijuana if you’re at least 21 years old. The cultivation of up to eight plants would also be allowed at personal residencies.
Although SF 73 and HB 100 differ slightly due to amendments, under both bills the Cannabis Management Office would be charged with overseeing the legal marijuana industry, with licensed marijuana retail outlets authorized to sell marijuana and marijuana products. Marijuana would receive an 10% excise tax, coming on top of the 6.8% statewide sales tax.
Under HB 100 and SF 73 past marijuana possession convictions would be automatically expunged, with the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension responsible for identifying people who are eligible for relief and process the expungements.
If HB 100 and SF 73 both pass their respective chambers a conference/concurrence committee will need to be established in order to coalesce the two bills. If both chambers agree on the same framework for their legislation and give it final passage, it will be sent to Governor Tim Walz for consideration.
