SF 2806

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 04/08/2019 02:29pm

A bill for an act
relating to health; creating a cannabis task force; requiring a report; proposing
coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 152.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

[152.38] CANNABIS TASK FORCE.

Subdivision 1.

Establishment.

The Cannabis Task Force is established to advise the
legislature on issues relating to the legalization and decriminalization of the cultivation,
production, sale, possession, and use of cannabis in Minnesota by individuals 21 years of
age or older.

Subd. 2.

Membership.

(a) The Cannabis Task Force consists of:

(1) the governor or a designee;

(2) four members representing each major political party recognized in Minnesota, with
the chair of the political party appointing the member;

(3) the commissioner of agriculture or a designee;

(4) the commissioner of health or a designee;

(5) the commissioner of public safety or a designee;

(6) the attorney general or a designee;

(7) the state public defender or a designee;

(8) the commissioner of revenue or a designee;

(9) the commissioner of labor and industry or a designee;

(10) the commissioner of human services or a designee;

(11) the commissioner of commerce or a designee; and

(12) five members appointed by the governor who have relevant knowledge and
experience, including:

(i) one member who is a county attorney;

(ii) one member who is a chief of police or sheriff;

(iii) one member with experience working in the medical cannabis industry;

(iv) one member who is a physician with expertise in the treatment of cannabis addiction;
and

(v) one member who is a health care practitioner with experience in providing treatment
for patients with a qualifying medical condition who are registered in the medical cannabis
patient registry.

(b) Members shall serve without compensation.

Subd. 3.

Organization.

(a) The governor or the governor's designee shall convene the
first meeting of the task force.

(b) The task force shall meet monthly or as determined by the chair.

(c) The members of the task force shall elect a chair and other officers as the members
deem necessary.

Subd. 4.

Staff.

The commissioner of health shall provide support staff, office space, and
administrative services for the task force.

Subd. 5.

Duties.

(a) The task force shall study the potential impact of legalizing and
decriminalizing cannabis in Minnesota. The study shall assess the health, public safety, and
economic impact of legalization, including the benefits and risks associated with legalizing
cannabis. The study shall examine:

(1) the experiences of other states that have legalized cannabis;

(2) the impact on law enforcement and criminal justice, including possible increases in
crime and traffic accidents;

(3) the impact on substance abuse, including possible reductions in opioid prescribing
and overdoses;

(4) possible health benefits and risks associated with cannabis use;

(5) potential tax revenue and long-term cost savings or losses;

(6) social justice, including issues associated with criminalization and the disproportionate
rates on certain racial and ethnic groups; and

(7) possibilities for economic development, including opportunities for community
revitalization.

(b) The task force shall develop a framework of what the state would need to include in
regulating and decriminalizing cannabis, including:

(1) statutory changes necessary for the legalization and decriminalization of cannabis;

(2) taxation of cannabis sales and appropriate dedicated uses for the tax revenue raised;

(3) state and local regulation of cannabis growth, processing, transport, packaging,
labeling, sale, possession, and use;

(4) funding for and provision of treatment to persons who are dependent on cannabis;

(5) expungement of low level marijuana convictions;

(6) security of cannabis retail and manufacturing locations and the safe handling of
proceeds from cannabis sales, including banking options;

(7) incentives for minority-owned businesses to participate in the cannabis industry; and

(8) recommendations to the legislature and others about the necessary and appropriate
actions related to legalization of cannabis in the state.

Subd. 6.

Report.

By December 1, 2020, the task force shall submit a report to the chairs
and ranking minority members of the legislative committees and divisions with jurisdiction
over health, human services, revenue, public safety, labor and industry, and agriculture
policy and finance that details the task force's assessments and framework as required under
subdivision 5.

Subd. 7.

Expiration.

This section expires July 1, 2021.