New bills would legalize recreational marijuana in Minnesota

By STEVE KARNOWSKI, Associated Press
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Two Minnesota lawmakers have proposed legislation that would bring recreational marijuana to the state, hoping to start what they acknowledge will be a long and contentious discussion.

Edina Democrat Melissa Franzen introduced the measures in the House, and Golden Valley Democrat Mike Freiberg proposed them in the Senate. They said at a news conference their proposal focuses on establishing a regulatory framework for legal sales of recreational cannabis starting in 2022 and for taxing them.

Franzen and Freiberg say they’re hoping to at least get hearings on the issue.

While there’s a new Democratic majority in the Minnesota House, Republicans still hold a slim majority in the state Senate, where Majority Leader Paul Gazelka issued a statement saying that he doesn’t think the legislation will pass this year.

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