New Minnesota Group Pushes Lawmakers to Legalize

A newly-formed organization in Minnesota is talking to legislators about introducing legalization legislation as early as the end of the month, The Star Tribune reports.

The organization, Minnesotans for Responsible Marijuana Regulation, is comprised of members with backgrounds in other Minnesota nonprofits. Members on the group’s steering committee have served with the Jewish Community Action and the Second Chance Coalition; the Mayor of Minneapolis is also on the committee.

The group aims to build support across the state by expanding their coalition and hosting educational events. “A lot of the early work that we’re going to have to do is fact-based,” said founder Leili Fatehi.

Fatehi hopes to address the many misconceptions prohibition has caused regarding cannabis’ risks and benefits. The group will organize its efforts via its website, mnisready.org.

While Minnesotans for Responsible Marijuana Regulation is currently talking to legislators about launching a bill, cannabis legalization was not on the short list of priorities listed by Minnesota House Democrats.

There are currently 10 U.S. states that have opted into ending cannabis prohibition and several more are expected to legalize later this year.