Marijuana in Minnesota

On Aug. 1, Minnesota became the 23rd state in the country to legalize cannabis for recreational use. But cannabis continues to be a Schedule 1 drug under federal law, which could have consequences for non U.S. citizens. 

The University of Minnesota School of Public Health has launched a new Cannabis Research Center to assess the health impacts of the state’s recent legalization of recreational cannabis for adults.

Minnesota became one of the latest states to legalize marijuana with the passage of House File 100 earlier this year. The law included two and a half million dollars for the University of Minnesota to study the impact of legalization.

The loan approved Tuesday by Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation will aid a Missouri-based company’s effort to build a $68 million cannabis cultivation and manufacturing facility on the site of a long-abandoned lumber mill.

“You want to ensure that the consumers have a safe product, that what it says on the label is in the actual package,” the chief regulator of Minnesota’s fledgling THC edibles market tells MPR News, adding that her agency is ramping up inspection efforts.

The legislative auditor’s preliminary inquiry will examine the vetting and appointment process related to the Office of Cannabis Management. It’s short of a full-blown review.

The St. Paul City Council has passed an ordinance restricting smoking cannabis, tobacco and hemp products on city-controlled property. The vote passed 4-3.

Gov. Tim Walz said Tuesday he would look for a marijuana oversight office leader who has prior regulatory experience after his first selection of an industry insider for the new post backfired.

After his choice to oversee legal cannabis in the state quit after one day amid media scrutiny of her background, Gov. Tim Walz said he will look into why problems weren’t discovered earlier.

Erin DuPree, named Thursday to lead the Office of Cannabis Management, left the job Friday after online evidence emerged showing she sold products that had more THC than the state allowed and owed tens of thousands in debts and tax liens.