Legalization of Recreational Marijuana

In 2023, the Minnesota State Legislature legalized the possession and sale of recreational marijuana in Minnesota.

As you may have heard, the Minnesota State Legislature legalized the possession and sale of recreational marijuana in Minnesota. The new laws take effect on August 1, 2023. This article will focus on how much marijuana a person may possess or transport. Further articles will explain more provisions of the law.

Who can possess and use recreational marijuana?

Any person who is 21 years of age or older may possess, transport, and use recreational marijuana. However, a person under this age may not possess, transport, or use recreational marijuana.

What can a person over the age of 21 possess or transport?

• Possess or transport paraphernalia for marijuana (e.g. pipes, items used for manufacturing; rolling papers)
• Possess or transport two ounces or less of adult-use cannabis flower in a public place.
• Possess two pounds or less of adult-use cannabis flower in their private residence.
• Possess or transport eight grams or less of adult-use cannabis concentrate.
• Possess or transport an edible cannabis product or lower-potency hemp edible infused with 800 milligrams or less of tetrahydrocannabinol.

What are the different types of marijuana?

• Cannabis flower: this is the regular kind of marijuana which is usually smoked, which includes the harvested flower, bud, leaves, and stems of the cannabis plant.
• Cannabis concentrate: this does not include the regular marijuana, but is the extracts or resins of the a cannabis plant refined to increase, often this is in the form of “vaping.”
• Edible cannabis product: This could be in the form of beverages, candy, or baked goods. It is product that eaten.

What is the difference between a public place and a private residence?

The new law does not define public place, but in other contexts this has been shown to be a car, a highway, or some other area accessible to the general public. A private residence is a person’s home, or those areas immediately around their home, such as their yard. As the law goes into effect, we are sure to see the exact meanings of these terms.

Stay tuned for more blogs on the new marijuana laws!