(Editor’s Note: The following column was submitted by Sen Andrew Mathews.)

Effective Aug. 1, 2023, adults at least age 21 can possess or publicly transport two ounces of adult-use cannabis flower, and up to eight grams of cannabis concentrates. Adults can also possess up to two pounds of adult-use cannabis flower in their home. I strongly opposed the measure for the detrimental effects it will have on our community, and I am troubled that the legislature is already being called to correct issues and expedite the regulations. 

Despite the bill being heard in 15 committees, Minnesota’s rollout of adult-use cannabis is a hodge-podge of the least restrictive policies from among the 21 adult-use states. Less than half of these states permit adults to home grow, only four have any presumption of public use, and to my knowledge only Minnesota does not permit local moratoriums on such businesses. We know from other states that for every $1 raised in new taxes on recreational marijuana sales, it costs taxpayers between $8 and $10 in expenses to cover new social services costs.

The law will also prohibit possession of opened cannabis products in a motor vehicle, similar to the existing “open bottle” law and require driver education courses to include information on the effects of cannabis consumption on motor skills. Despite this intention, law enforcement officials claim there is not a reliable test to determine a user’s impairment after consuming cannabis.

According to the National Institutes of Health, traffic deaths involving marijuana impaired drivers increased 138% and for all drivers 29% since marijuana was legalized in Colorado. The Governors Highway Safety Association has noted increases in impaired driving cases in Washington state since legalization and increases in fatal crashes in both Colorado and Washington.  

Criminal records of Minnesotans with petty misdemeanor and misdemeanor cannabis convictions will begin to be expunged immediately. The Cannabis Expungement Board will have power to determine whether a person’s felony cannabis conviction should be vacated, charges dismissed, records expunged, or if the person should be resentenced to a lesser offense.