Dear Neighbors,
Today, we’ll be on the House floor to vote for a bill that would legalize and regulate cannabis for adult use, and expunge the records of those convicted of nonviolent cannabis-related crimes. I will be voting yes.
There are a number of reasons why it’s time for Minnesota to legalize adult-use cannabis, but at the top of the list for me is its impact on racial justice. Despite comparable usage rates, Black Minnesotans are 5.4 times more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession than white Minnesotans, and our state ranks 8th in the largest racial disparities in marijuana possession arrests.
Our current laws are doing far more harm than good, with the data showing that all they’re really accomplishing is an exacerbated racial divide in our justice system, punishing Minnesotans for possession of a substance that a growing number of states have managed to successfully legalize for adult use.
Continue reading “Rep. Michael Howard (HD50A) Update: May 13, 2021”