Rice County Attorney John Fossum said he does not believe the legislature will pass a bill legalizing the recreational use of
marijuana during this session and added that he would not support such a measure.
Fossum said he still sees too many problems with legalization that have not been resolved. First among them, he said is traffic safety issues. Right now if a person is found to be driving a car with THC in their blood system, that constitutes an offense for driving under the influence. But legalization of marijuana would complicate the matter, because there has not been a determination of how much THC a person can have in their system and still safely operate a motor vehicle.
He pointed to Colorado, which was the first state in the nation to legalize recreational use, and said they experienced a profound increase in traffic safety issues after legalization.
Fossum said he doesn’t see the issue as a high priority in the legislature, partially because in recent years, Minnesota has greatly reduced the penalties for possession.
“Minnesota decriminalized marijuana a long time ago, but I don’t think legalization is quite where we’re ready to go. Most marijuana possession offenses aren’t very serious. Some of them are petty misdemeanors, and some are misdemeanors. To get to a felony you have to have a lot, so it’s not an offense that we spend a lot of time dealing with.”
In 2021, the State House of Representatives passed a legalization bill with several Republicans voting in favor, along with the Democratic majority, but the bill did not receive a hearing in the Senate. Governor Tim Walz has said he would sign a legalization bill and has encouraged the legislature to send one to his desk. This year, another bill has been introduced, but the results will most likely be the same. There is almost zero support in the Senate Republican majority for legalization, and some wonder if this year’s bill will even make it to the House floor.
At least eighteen states across the country have legalized recreational use, along with Guam and the District of Columbia. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has introduced legislation into the United States Senate to declassify marijuana as a Schedule 1 narcotic.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Rice County Attorney John Fossum can be heard here
Summertime Community Ed programs offer ‘something for everyone’
Registration is now open for the Northfield Community Education Summer Programs. Community Education Director Erin
Bailey said the goal every year is to offer enough different options that there will be something for every young person in Northfield, and most likely every adult as well.
The just released catalogue of programs, classes and activities is as exhaustive as ever. Parents wanting to register their kids to play softball or t-ball, participate in playground programs or take swimming lessons, Bailey said all of the standard and expected programs are back this year. And there are plenty of new programs as well.
A new water volleyball league is being offered in collaboration with the Faribault parks department for kids ags 15 and up, kayaking and canoeing classes are offered in partnership with Riverbend Nature Center. Pickleball and badminton classes are available, even a class for girls in grades 3-6 to learn how to support each other.
The adult activities, alongside the softball and volleyball leagues, include Dog training, Nordic Walking and a Mother/Daughter Yoga Retreat. New this year is a class to help understand the ins and outs of Medicare, and another called “What Every Parent and Grandparent Should Know About Climate Change.”
Bailey said after the summer of 2020 when registration dropped for all of their programs, but she said the summertime programs bounced back again in 2021.
“I think that’s just due to the nature of our programs in the summer. The vast majority of them are either outside or are in very large, open spaces. And that looks very similar for this year, too. We need to take advantage of the nice weather in Minnesota and do things outside. And so, again, a large percentage of our programs are outside. We have had very strong registration up to this point, and we hope to see that continue.”
The deadline to register for any class or program is two days before it begins but Bailey said many fill up quickly, so she encourages everyone to sign up sooner than later.
For more information, or to receive a brochure, contact the Community Education Department at 507-664-3649 or visit northfieldschools.org.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Community Education Director Erin Bailey can be heard here
City Council preview
And the Northfield City Council will meet tomorrow tonight in the Council Chambers in City Hall with a full slate of issues on the
agenda.
Northfield Chief of Police Mark Elliott will deliver the first of what will be quarterly police reports to the council, updating them on public safety statistics and information. And Director of Library Services Natalie Draper will give the council a presentation on the library’s new strategic plan.
Prior to the meeting, the council will meet in closed session to perform City Administrator Ben Martig’s annual job performance review, the results of which will be made public during the council’s open meeting. And in what could be the final resolution of what has been a controversial, and at times contentious, project. The Council will review the final plat for the Kraewood Development and consider a resolution for the plat approval.
The Council will also discuss bonds for the new Transit Hub, and they will consider a resolution supporting the development of commercial construction along the I-35 corridor.
As always, the city and the council are always asking to hear opinions and comments from the public. Anyone who wishes to do so is invited to come to the meeting and address the council on any topic they see fit. Those wishing to voice their opinions without addressing the council should email their councilors directly or post a comment through the eComment button on the “Agendas” section of the City Council website.
The meeting will begin tomorrow night at 6pm.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
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