Medical Marijuana in Minnesota

Minnesota lawmakers approved a bill in 2014 that legalizes the limited use of some forms of medical marijuana. On June 1, 2015, patients could begin the process of becoming certified to buy the drug.

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Medical marijuana greenhouse

Minnesota's medical cannabis program adds qualifying conditions: IBS and OCD

November 30, 2022 11:24 AM

By Andrew Krueger

Minnesota health officials are expanding the list of conditions that qualify for the state’s medical cannabis program to include IBS and OCD.

A marijuana jar for sale.

U.S. House passes bill to decriminalize marijuana

April 1, 2022 1:14 PM

By The Associated Press

Democrats said the federal prohibition on marijuana has had particularly devastating consequences for minority communities. Republicans mostly opposed the bill and called it a distraction from more pressing issues.

Rosemary Johnson uses medical marijuana pills to deal with pain

Minnesota court: Workers' comp can't cover medical marijuana

October 13, 2021 12:04 PM

By Steve Karnowski, Associated Press

The Minnesota Supreme Court says workers’ compensation for injured employees doesn’t cover medical marijuana because the drug remains illegal under federal law.

Cannabis plant

Major change to Minnesota medical cannabis law approved

May 18, 2021 2:32 PM

On the last day of the legislative session the House and Senate passed a bill to allow people in Minnesota’s medical cannabis program to smoke marijuana. Supporters say the move will significantly cut the cost of medical marijuana.

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Decriminalization trend means 1 in 3 Americans now lives in a state where marijuana is legal

December 16, 2020 5:45 PM

By Kerri Miller and Maja Beckstrom

Kerri Miller spoke to a marijuana regulator and a drug policy researcher about decriminalizing marijuana and the steps some states are taking to address racial equity through changes to drug law.

Wyatt Hauser takes his tincture with lunch.

What’s next for medical cannabis in Minnesota?

December 17, 2019 11:06 AM

By Jeffrey Bissoy and Angela Davis

Minnesota regulators unveiled plans to expand the state’s medical marijuana program. MPR News host Angela Davis examines who will have access to it and what it means for the future of medical marijuana in Minnesota.

A man handles cannabis plants in a lab

Minn. medical marijuana firms stand by vaping products amid health scare

September 13, 2019 1:18 PM

However, the Minnesota Health Department says it cannot give the products “complete assurance of safety until investigators determine a specific cause of the lung injuries.”

A man smokes a marijuana joint at a party celebrating weed in Seattle.

Teen odds of using marijuana dip with recreational use laws

July 8, 2019 8:08 PM

By Associated Press

One reason may be that it's harder and costlier for teens to buy marijuana from licensed dispensaries than from dealers, said lead author Mark Anderson, a health economist at Montana State University.

Rosemary Johnson uses medical marijuana pills to deal with pain

Older Minnesotans use plenty of meds, but medical marijuana? Not so much

June 13, 2019 3:14 PM

Minnesotans aged 65 and over are the heaviest users of prescription drugs, but rank third behind two younger age groups in use of medical marijuana.

Pruning plants

Medical pot laws no answer for U.S. opioid deaths, study finds

June 10, 2019 4:24 PM

By Associated Press

A new study shoots down the notion that medical marijuana laws can prevent opioid overdose deaths, challenging a favorite talking point of legal pot advocates.