Representative Angie Craig Applauds Minnesota House Passage of Bill Legalizing Marijuana, Calls on Senate to Immediately Take Up Legislation

Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig applauded members of the Minnesota House of Representatives for passing H.F. 600, introduced by House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, which would legalize the recreational use of cannabis for adults in the state of Minnesota. Craig also called on elected officials in the Minnesota Senate to immediately take up and pass the long overdue legislation, arguing that drug laws governing marijuana usage are outdated and discriminatory.

The legislation, which was just approved by the Minnesota House, would allow adults in Minnesotan to grow and consume cannabis responsibly. Additionally, H.F. 600 would expunge non-violent cannabis offenses from Minnesotans' criminal records and invest revenues from cannabis taxation into communities that have been impacted disproportionately by drug laws and enforcement.

"For decades, the United States has wasted hundreds of billions of dollars enforcing antiquated drug laws that do not make our communities any safer or more secure -- while targeting minority communities in a particularly unjust and prejudiced way," said Representative Craig. "I applaud the members of the Minnesota House who took action on this important issue, and urge leadership in the Senate to follow in their footsteps to finally legalize marijuana in Minnesota."

In the 116th Congress, Representative Craig co-sponsored and voted to pass the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, landmark legislation to decriminalize cannabis at the federal level and expunge marijuana-related convictions.

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