Minnesota becomes the 23rd state to legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older in 2023. Saturday marks April 20, a day of symbolic importance in marijuana lore, the first day recreational use will be legal in the state. Several events will be held across the state to celebrate this.
Minnesota's long road to legalization dates back to 1976 and is still ongoing, with recreational dispensaries not expected to reopen until next year at the earliest. Here are some key moments from the trip.
The National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse released a report arguing that federal criminal law is “too harsh a tool to apply to personal possession, even in efforts to deter use.”
Minnesota relaxed penalties for marijuana possession in a 1976 law, stating that “possession of small amounts of marijuana is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $100 and participation in a drug education program.” Local governments were prohibited from enacting laws stricter than those enforced by the state.
The Legal Marijuana Now Party was founded for the sole purpose of opposing legal prohibition of marijuana. The party has been successful enough to achieve major party status over the past decade, but is currently struggling to maintain that status.
