Two More U.S. States Move to Regulate Adult Use of Cannabis
Montana is restoring funding for conservation programs, allowing home cultivation, and ensuring legalization continues. Meanwhile, Minnesota had its legalization bill approved on Thursday (22) and now moves to the Senate.
Curated and edited by Sechat Content, with information from Marijuana Moment
In the United States, legislation in two states regarding adult use of Cannabis is making its way through the legislature. Montana is restoring funding for conservation programs, allowing home cultivation, and ensuring the legalization continues. Meanwhile, the state of Minnesota had its legalization bill approved on Thursday (22) and moves forward in the Senate.
Montana
In Montana, a Senate committee succeeded on Wednesday night (21) in approving an amended version of a bill to implement and tax adult-use marijuana in the state, one of the final priorities of a legislative session nearing its end.
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The main cannabis bill version that emerged from the committee on Wednesday also allows limited home cultivation, some local taxes, and provides an agreement on the issue of a region of the state refusing to authorize cannabis for adults.
Minnesota
In Minnesota, the House's eighth committee approved a bill on Thursday (22) to legalize cannabis for adult use in the state. Specifically, the House Education Finance Committee approved the legislation by an 8-6 vote.
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The legislation - introduced by House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler (D), Speaker Melissa Hortman (D), and other legislators in February - would allow adults aged 21 and older to purchase and possess up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis (equivalent to 42.5 grams) and grow up to eight plants.
The bill "seeks to correct many of the mistakes of the past that were caused by a drug war based on false information about the dangers of cannabis and, unfortunately, led to policing and over-focus on certain communities in Minnesota, particularly black communities," as Winkler stated at Thursday's hearing.
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In the U.S., 38 states allow Medicinal Cannabis use, and 16 for adult use
Currently, 16 out of the 50 states (plus Washington DC) have opted for the legalization of adult-use Cannabis. Most recently, New York was the last to approve a bill legalizing the plant for those over 18 years old. According to Marijuana Business Daily, cannabis sales in the state will reach $2.3 billion annually from the fourth year after legalization, becoming the largest adult-use cannabis market in the U.S.
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Regarding Medicinal Cannabis, the number of states with legal markets totals 38, in addition to Washington DC. Therefore, 76% of states have legalized commercial Medicinal Cannabis programs. This has implications at the federal level, particularly as legalization in conservative states increases pressure on federal lawmakers in those jurisdictions to consider cannabis-related policy reforms.