 Friend, If you're an adult, you should be free to use cannabis. It's that simple. It's why I voted for the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, a bill we passed in the U.S. House to decriminalize it nationwide. Most Americans support legalization (I've heard support from many of you right here in the 3rd District!) and the Minnesota House of Representatives does, too. Last week, Democrats in the House passed H.F. 600, a bill to legalize cannabis for adults in Minnesota. Now it's time for the State Senate to follow suit.
Cannabis is a multi-billion-dollar industry, and the 16 states that have legalized, regulated, and taxed it are reaping the benefits. Cannabis legalization opens new doors for entrepreneurs and brings in new tax revenues that can be used for schools, health care, housing, and more. But in states where it remains illegal, people with past marijuana convictions can be barred from employment, housing, and other basic necessities. It's unjust, and the burden falls disproportionately on Black Americans. Passing this bill in Minnesota -- just like passing the MORE Act -- would be a small but crucial step toward racial justice. If passed, it would expunge records for non-violent marijuana misdemeanors, allow adults 21 and older to use cannabis, and invest the tax revenues into the communities that have been harmed the most by the failed War on Drugs. Thanks, Dean Phillips
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