ST. PAUL, MN – State legislators met for the first time this week to reconcile differences between recreational cannabis bills in the House and Senate.
According to Fox 9, the primary variances in the bills pertain to the tax rate and the quantity of marijuana that one can possess
Legislators are also setting guidelines, including determining when employers can conduct drug tests on their employees.
“We just want to make sure that just like alcohol, adult use cannabis is something you can do in your off time but not something we’re expecting folks to do while they’re at work,” said Rep. Athena Hollins, DFL-St. Paul.
Democratic lawmakers estimate that it will take between 12 and 16 months to begin issuing licenses to retailers once the bill is passed. However, certain Republicans contend that there is no need to rush the legislation and that it could continue to be developed to ensure passage in the next legislative session.
“Our laws are doing more harm than good and every day we leave them in place more harm is done. so we are going to deliver this bill for the people of Minnesota this year.” says Rep. Zack Stephenson, DFL-Coon Rapids.
The committee is set to convene several times in the coming days to finalize the bill for voting in both the House and Senate.
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