While Minnesota legalized adult-use cannabis in 2023, the work isn’t done. As the landscape continues to shift, we stand by our original principles, which remain crucial as new laws and regulations are developed. These principles guide our endorsements of political candidates and the policies we prioritize:

• Support Minnesota Businesses: We advocate for policies that prioritize Minnesota-first cannabis businesses, fostering a locally driven economy.

• Invest in Racial Equity: We support initiatives that give communities disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition the chance to thrive in the legal market.

• Establish Statewide Standards: A unified cannabis marketplace ensures all businesses, big and small, can operate under the same rules without interference from patchwork local regulations.

• Eliminate Barriers to a Legal Market: Regulations and taxes must be fair and reasonable to ensure the legal market thrives while preventing the illicit market from resurging.

• Expunge Criminal Records: Expunging cannabis-related criminal records is a vital step toward addressing the harm caused by decades of prohibition.

• Address Real Risks: We support cannabis regulations that are based on actual risks and evidence, not outdated stigma. It is essential that policy decisions are grounded in science and public health, ensuring that the cannabis industry is regulated fairly and responsibly.

Our endorsement questionnaire ensures we only back candidates who align with our vision and principles and commit to furthering a positive, equitable, and sustainable cannabis industry in Minnesota. Specific issues candidates were asked about in our 2024 endorsement questionnaire include:

• Tax Revenue for Social Equity: We believe cannabis tax revenue should fund grant programs that support small businesses, social equity applicants, and communities harmed by prohibition.

• Criminal Justice Reform: We support reducing criminal penalties for cannabis possession, particularly at-home possession and protections for home growers. We oppose any attempts to roll back the progress made on personal possession and home grow limits.

• Craft Cannabis Market: Minnesota has committed to a craft cannabis market, and we support maintaining policies that ensure small businesses can succeed without being overrun by multi-state operators. We stand by efforts to maintain the state’s current balance between regulation and business operations to give local businesses a chance to thrive.

• Medical Cannabis Access: While Minnesota made strides with adult-use cannabis, medical cannabis patients still face barriers. We support unifying the medical and adult-use supply chains and expanding caregiver provisions to help more patients access safe, affordable cannabis products.

• Psychedelic Medicine: As part of our commitment to equitable drug policy, we also support the recommendations of the Psychedelic Medicine Taskforce as they explore safe, effective treatments using substances like MDMA, psilocybin, and LSD.