The bill forces cannabis into cities without adequate public safety support, public awareness campaigns, or substance abuse prevention. 

ST. PAUL – Today Senate Democrats voted to advance cannabis legalization that Republicans say is not ready yet. The bill passed on a party-line vote. In a press conference ahead of the bill, Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson (R- East Grand Forks) and Senator Carla Nelson (R- Rochester), who is leading the issue for the caucus, raised their concerns with public safety, local control, youth access and substance abuse.  

“There are too many problems with the legislation that was before the Senate today. The fact is it remains illegal as a Schedule 1 drug under federal law,” Nelson said. “This bill fails to adequately address concerns about public safety, substance abuse prevention and treatment, and protection of children from the effects of a harmful drug. It is particularly troubling that we lack a roadside test for law enforcement to use to detect when someone is driving under the influence. Our communities will be less safe with increased use and availability of marijuana.” 

According to the National Institutes of Health, traffic deaths involving marijuana impaired drivers increased 138% and for all drivers 29% since marijuana was legalized in Colorado. The Governors Highway Safety Association has noted increases in impaired driving cases in Washington state since legalization, and increases in fatal crashes in both Colorado and Washington. As of today, there is not a reliable test for law enforcement to determine a user’s impairment after consuming cannabis. There is drug impairment training course available to Minnesota law enforcement, however, the bill does not provide funding for local departments to cover this cost.  

“We think local control is best, but this bill is limiting their ability to do what is best for their communities,” Nelson said. “They will be left dealing with higher costs, more public safety calls, and not enough resources to handle the community safety concerns they already are struggling with.” 

On the Senate floor, a Democrat amendment to give cities a bit more control over where and how cannabis sales could be conducted was adopted, however, it lacked a key change to allow cities to impose an outright ban on sales or manufacturing. Additionally, the bill was brought to the floor before a financial analysis on the impact to cities could be completed. When a change this big is brought up, legislators generally like to understand how it will impact the revenues and budgets of cities and counties.  

Republicans also raised concerns the bill wasn’t ready to ensure impressionable kids aren’t set on a path to develop potentially harmful habits. According to the National Institutes of Health, people who begin using marijuana before the age of 18 are four to seven times more likely to develop marijuana use disorder as adults. Concerns are even higher after seeing how THC and edible cannabis is frequently designed to be a treat, and inherently attractive to kids. According to Kaiser Health News, incidences of exposures to marijuana among kids under five in Colorado nearly tripled in 2021.  

“I have long fought to reduce tobacco use, particularly among children. It’s a legal and unsafe drug that causes deadly health issues. Children were targeted by tobacco companies to hook them young.” Nelson said. “This bill doesn’t do nearly enough to make sure they aren’t targeted by those selling marijuana.” 

It’s not just kids who are at risk, however. Republicans warned that substance abuse, already on the rise since COVID, is a risk the bill does not adequately address. According to a study from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, cannabis use disorder increased after legalization in states that legalized cannabis use. Cannabis Use Disorder was increased at a 25% higher rate in cannabis legalization states vs non-legalization states.   

“We recognize the growing interest in legalizing cannabis in Minnesota,” Sen. Johnson said. “However, voting for this bill in its current form will make our roads less safe. It will put more children at risk for accidental overdose. It will tell teenagers that this drug is safer than alcohol or tobacco when that is simply not true. Every negative consequence will be on the conscience of those voting yes today,” Johnson concluded.