Adult Use Cannabis Bill Heard in House and Senate Health Committees

February 23, 2023

On February 21, bills (HF 100 and SF 73) legalizing adult use cannabis were heard in both the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and the House Health Finance and Policy Committee.  

The legislation is moving towards passage in both bodies this session but it is unclear whether it will reach Gov. Tim Walz by the end of session. Walz has voiced his support of legalizing recreational cannabis in Minnesota. 

The MMA sent a letter to both committees, in which the MMA urged members to recognize that legalizing adult use of cannabis will have an impact on the health of Minnesotans. The letter  urged members to be “mindful of the harmful and difficult lessons learned with respect to alcohol and tobacco regulation. These lessons, combined with the best available, albeit insufficient, evidence on the health effects of cannabis must inform any future Minnesota policy.” 

Furthermore, the MMA suggested that lawmakers consider the following measures in discussions to legalize recreational use of cannabis. 

1. Research has consistently shown that human brain development and maturation is not complete until the age of 25. Therefore, individuals under age 25 should be prohibited from purchasing, possessing, or using cannabis or cannabis-infused products. 

2. Cannabis use may increase the risk of developing psychiatric disorders, including psychosis (schizophrenia), depression and anxiety, particularly among individuals with a pre-existing genetic or other vulnerability. Public awareness of these risks is not well understood. 

3. During pregnancy, cannabis use may increase the risk of low birth weight. In addition, prenatal cannabis exposure before or after maternal knowledge of pregnancy may increase the risk for psychopathology during middle childhood. Again, public awareness of these risks is limited. 

4. Current addiction treatment capacity and resources are insufficient. Cannabis use may increase the risk of developing substance use disorders and further strain addiction treatment availability. 

5. Children and adolescents in particular face risks from various cannabis inhalation delivery systems, ingestion of edibles, and exposure to secondhand smoke or vapor. 

6. Tobacco and alcohol experiences have demonstrated the importance of strict product packaging, marketing, sales, and advertising regulations to prevent use by children, adolescents, and other at-risk individuals. 

7. Ongoing monitoring of health impacts, through data collection and analysis, is essential. 

The House bill was referred to the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee and the Senate bill was laid over for future discussion in the Health and Human Services Committee.