The Minnesota House of Representatives passed an omnibus cannabis policy bill on Monday with little debate, moving forward legislation aimed at refining the state’s evolving cannabis laws. Known as HF1615/SF2370, the bill passed in a 82-50 vote after a “delete-all” amendment inserted the House’s preferred language. It now returns to the Senate, where a conference committee is expected to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions.
While the bill is primarily technical in nature, several key provisions aim to address challenges faced in the early rollout of Minnesota’s recreational cannabis program.
Rep. Nolan West (R-Blaine), who co-authored the bill with chief sponsor Rep. Zack Stephenson (DFL-Coon Rapids), acknowledged the program's rocky start and emphasized the bill’s importance in helping to smooth the transition.
“This bill contains some provisions that are important for ensuring a smooth rollout,” West said on the House floor.
Among the changes, the bill would eliminate the requirement for THC beverages containing no more than 10 milligrams of THC to be labeled as two servings—a move that would simplify product packaging and reduce confusion for consumers. It would also create a new license category for lower-potency hemp wholesalers and grant visiting medical cannabis patients the same rights as Minnesota residents enrolled in the program.
Other successful amendments included provisions to allow medical cannabis businesses to sell to other licensed cannabis entities and to deliver products directly to patients. Another amendment limits advertisements that promote simultaneous consumption of alcohol and cannabis, reflecting ongoing public health concerns.
Despite bipartisan efforts to improve the law, not all legislators were on board. Rep. Bidal Duran (R-Bemidji), who works in law enforcement, voiced strong opposition to the bill, citing marijuana’s federal Schedule I status and questioning its health benefits.
“When we look at marijuana and what it’s doing to our children and what it’s doing to our community here, we need to be very, very careful in what we do,” Duran said. “Marijuana is not going to benefit our community.”
The legislative debate reflects broader tensions in Minnesota and across the country as states work to implement cannabis legalization measures while balancing regulatory, health, and community safety concerns.
The final version of the bill will be shaped in conference committee negotiations before heading to Governor Tim Walz, who has supported cannabis legalization efforts in the past.