Gov. Walz Signs Cannabis Legalization Into Law, Former Gov Jesse Ventura Attends Ceremony

"Minnesota just became the 23rd state in the nation to legalize adult-use cannabis," tweeted Gov. Tim Walz (D) after he signed the legalization bill into law on Tuesday. 

The 300-page bill allows adults 21 and older to use recreational cannabis and seeks to transform the illicit market into regulated, state-licensed businesses throughout the state. It also expunges low-level cannabis convictions. 

Former Gov. Jesse Ventura, who supported legalization when he served from 1999-2003, attended the signing ceremony and stood at the podium. Walz had invited Ventura because he was one of the first governors in the country to support legalization. Walz has also long been a supporter of legalizing recreational marijuana for adults. “I’m not the first governor to talk about this,” Walz says of Ventura.

Ventura, a retired pro wrestler, said in November that Walz had called him up the day after his reelection and said he expected a new legalization bill to pass. Ventura, an independent who doesn’t usually make endorsements, backed Walz over Republican Scott Jensen and said legalization was one of the many reasons why.

Under the new measure, it will become legal by Aug. 1 to possess, use and grow marijuana at home. Possession of cannabis flower would be limited to 2 pounds (0.9 kilos) at home and 2 ounces (56 grams) in public. Stricter caps would be placed on cannabis products with concentrated THC.

Photo: Twitter