By Rich Larson, News Director
Majority Leader Ryan Winkler introduced a bill into the state House of Representatives last week that would make recreational marijuana legal in
Minnesota. The bill, which has the support of Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman and Governor Tim Walz, was co-authored by State Representative Todd Lippert.
Lippert said he has two main reasons to support legalization. The first is to eliminate the illicit marijuana market. By making it legal, the government would be able to regulate it much easier, and while it is doubtful the black market would be eliminated altogether, it would dramatically reduce the public demand outside of the law.
He said the other main reason he supports legalization is racial equity.
“The white community and the black community use cannabis at equal rates. But if you’re black in Minnesota, this is an ACLU study, you are four times more likely to be arrested. That’s something we need to address and moving toward legalization in a thoughtful way would help us do that.”
Representative Lippert said that attitudes about legalized cannabis are changing nationwide, pointing to November’s legalization-by-referendum vote in the heavily conservative state of South Dakota. He said he believes the best path forward is through the legislature so that regulations and administration can be immediately defined.
State vaccinations increasing
In another matter, Representative Lippert said he is starting to see momentum building in the state’s Covid-19 vaccination program. He said that the state has had systems in place for some time, and now the vaccine capacity is starting to fill in as well. He pointed to the recent announcement by Northfield Hospital & Clinics that they are offering vaccinations to people 80 and over. He said though it might still not be at the pace people would like, things are starting to pick up, and more options will be available soon.
“Be looking for multiple ways to get the vaccine. We’re waiting for a distribution center in Southern Minnesota to be announced, which will hopefully make it easier for those over 65 [to access vaccine]. But the state is doing everything it can to get the vaccine out as quickly as possible.”
Lippert also said there is “more conversation” about state epidemiologist Dr. Michael Osterholm’s somewhat controversial opinion that the programs should be focused on getting the first shot to as many people as possible, rather than giving the necessary two doses to fewer people. However, he said that the Minnesota Department of Health will not change strategy unless they receive different guidance from the Centers for Disease Control.
Representative Lippert’s full conversation with Jeff Johnson can be heard here.
Soil and Water District to implement watershed management plan
And last week the Rice Soil and Water Conservation District announced that it will begin to implement the Cannon River Watershed Management Plan by working with farmers and landowners in an effort t improve the quality of the water in the watershed.
RSWD spokesperson Emmie Peters said in a statement that staff will be working with the public on four categories: conservation education, resource development, price sharing and plan development and tracking.
The statement said that implementation of the plan will help reduce the sedimentation and nutrient loading of local lakes and streams. Rice County is home to 27.8% of the Cannon River Watershed Area, the largest share of any county within the watershed.
