Legalization is building momentum across the nation and world. 15 states have legalized cannabis so far, Including Illinois and South Dakota. House Majority leader Ryan Winkler and several of his colleagues introduced a bill (HF600) for legalization on Feb. 1st.

   House Majority leader Ryan Winkler stated "Cannabis is not new to Minnesota. In fact, according to the federal Department of Health and Human Services, 15.9% of adults or 680,000+ Minnesota adults have used cannabis in the past year. The lack of regulation of this industry has not worked:

• While there is a small disparity in the rate of usage between Caucasians and African-Americans (2013 ACLU Study), there is a large disparity in cannabis arrests - African Americans represent only 5% of the population, but 31% of the cannabis possession arrests.

• September of 2019 saw the highest number of E.R. visits linked to vaping (most from additives in unregulated vaping products).

• No ID checks – 66% of tenth graders across the country reported that cannabis is “very easy” or “fairly easy” to access.

• No dosage restrictions or labeling on cannabis products.

• It is hard to access for veterans – the VA cannot prescribe it and instead prescribe opioids at alarming rates. Between 2010 and 2015, the number of veterans addicted to opioids increased by 55 percent to nearly 70,000.

• Law enforcement made 8,752 arrests for cannabis in 2018. Legalizing cannabis can reduce law enforcement time and resources spent on cannabis offenses – saving tens of millions of dollars."
  
  

We are closer to legalization in Minnesota than we have ever been.
We need your help to pass this legislation in the House and Senate.
Can we count on you to help?

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