Golden Valley Lawmaker Chief Author of Legalize Marijuana Bill
A Golden Valley lawmaker is a chief author of a bill that would legalize recreational marijuana.
House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, DFL, has been an outspoken proponent of legalizing it, saying current cannabis laws are doing more harm than good and have led to widened racial disparities in the criminal justice system.
Winkler also points to states like South Dakota and Illinois that have legalized it. He says legalization will end the black market for cannabis.
“The tide is shifting and it’s coming in very strong and if we are not in front of this, if we are not doing a thoughtful job putting this bill together, creating this policy, we are going to end up with more problems with cannabis than we have right now,” Winkler said during a press conference Monday.
In a statement to CCX News, Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-Nisswa, says there is no reason to rush passage of this legislation without learning more, pointing to adverse effects in other states that have legalized it, like Colorado and Washington.
