By Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura said this week that current residents of the office are determined to get cannabis legalized on the line.
Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz secured a second term in Tuesday’s election, beating Republican challenger Scott Jensen 52% to 45%. That wasn’t the only good news for Walz on the night. Democrats in the state have flipped the state Senate, allowing party control of the entire state legislature.
Ventura, who served as governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003, said on a podcast that Waltz called him Wednesday and shared some news that excited supporters of legalization in the 10,000 Lake Nation. Did.
“The cannabis deadlock in Minnesota was[the Senate]Republican,” Ventura said. Quoted by local news station Fox 9“Well, they’ve lost it now, and the governor reassured me that one of the first items to pass – Minnesota, get ready – the ban on cannabis will be lifted.” That’s the news I got today.”
Ventura endorsed Waltz in his re-election campaign last month, and the former governor said incumbents reached out to thank him for his support.
Ventura also said Waltz “invited him to attend future bill-signing ceremonies.” According to Fox 9.
“My honor is that I was invited when the bill was signed,” Ventura said. We deserve to see it over later.”
Waltz has supported legalizing cannabis for adult use in the state. In January, he and his lieutenant governor, Peggy Flanagan, submitted a budget proposal that included legalizing marijuana.
The proposal included “a tax on marijuana, measures to expunge nonviolent marijuana-related convictions, the creation of a cannabis control office, and resources for substance abuse prevention and treatment.” according to Minnesota Reformer.
That proposal was immediately opposed by a coalition of various companies, trade groups and other organizations that formed the Minnesota Citizens Against Legalization of Marijuana earlier this year.
Democrats in the Minnesota House of Representatives have been pushing legalization measures for years.
House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler helped the House pass the legalization bill last year.
In a statement after the 2021 passage, Winkler said, “The failure to criminalize cannabis has resulted in a legacy of racial injustice that can no longer be dealt with. Adults decide whether to use cannabis or not. Freedom deserves, and our state government should, play a key role in addressing legitimate concerns about youth access, public health, and road safety. Veterans and Minnesotans in need of better access to healthcare programs that don’t work for most people.It’s time to legalize, expunge and regulate.”
Not only did Waltz win Congress over, polls show Minnesota voters are ready to end the state’s pot ban.
survey from Minneapolis Star Tribune .
But thanks to a law that went into effect in July that allowed the sale of food and beverage products containing small amounts of THC, those voters can legally get high.
Some lawmakers didn’t know that a bill passed aimed at providing stronger regulation on hemp-derived products effectively legalized weed.
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