Minnesota is now the 23rd state to legalize recreational marijuana for adults over 21.
On May 30, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill legalizing recreational marijuana, making it the 23rd state to do so.
“We’ve known for too long that prohibiting the use of cannabis hasn’t worked,” Walz, a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, said in a statement. “By legalizing adult-use cannabis, we’re expanding our economy, creating jobs, and regulating the industry to keep Minnesotans safe.”
HF 100 allows adults over 21 to possess up to two pounds of cannabis at home and two ounces in public. lt also establishes a 10% tax on recreational cannabis and calls for the expungement or resentencing of cannabis-related convictions.
The law is slated to go into effect Aug. 1, though retail dispensaries aren’t expected to open until sometime next year, according to the Associated Press. Medical marijuana was legalized in Minnesota in 2014.
Here’s what to know about marijuana in the US, including which states have legalized it, what’s happening on the federal level and how Americans feel about pot.
Which states have legalized recreational marijuana?
Minnesota is the 23rd state to legalize the adult use of marijuana for recreational purposes, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The other states are Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.
