Minnesota governor readies to sign bill legalizing recreational cannabis
Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz is scheduled to sign a bill Tuesday that legalizes recreational marijuana for people over the age of 21
ST. PAUL, Minnesota (AP) — Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz is scheduled to sign a bill Tuesday that legalizes recreational marijuana for people over the age of 21, making Minnesota the 23rd state to legalize the substance for adults.
Former Gov. Jesse Ventura, who supported legalization when he served from 1999-2003, is expected to attend the signing ceremony. Walz said in November that Ventura would be invited because Ventura was one of the first governors in the country to support legalization.
Under the new measure, it would become legal by Aug. 1 to possess, use and grow marijuana at home. Possession of cannabis flower would be limited to 2 pounds (0.9 kilos) at home and 2 ounces (56 grams) in public. Stricter caps would be placed on cannabis products with concentrated THC.
Retail sales at dispensaries would probably be at least a year away. Once licensed, stores would charge sales tax plus a 10% cannabis tax.
