Is Weed Legal In Minnesota?

Government attitudes to the legalization and consumption of weed throughout the U.S. are changing rapidly.

This can make it incredibly difficult to keep up with what the current laws are regarding the decriminalization and legalization of weed.

Whether you live in Minnesota or are planning on making a trip to the state, it is a good idea to check up on the laws before you blaze up on the sidewalk.

In this quick guide, we will look at whether weed is legal in Minnesota, whether you can smoke in public, and what the future holds for cannabis legalization in the state.

Is Weed Fully Legalized In Minnesota?

Up until recently, cannabis had not been made fully legal in the state, there were different rules that applied depending on your medical status and your reason for possessing and using the drug.

However, as of May 2023, weed was legalized for recreational use as well as medicinal use.

Therefore, it is now fully legal to be in possession of personal use cannabis in Minnesota.

Recreational Marijuana In Minnesota

As of 2023, the recreational use of cannabis in the state of Minnesota is legal. It became the 23rd state in the U.S. that legalized cannabis.

Before it was legal, if you were found to be in possession of fewer than 42 grams or 1.5 ounces of marijuana, you would not go to prison. Instead, you would be issued with a fine.

Now, you will not be fined if you are found to be in possession of up to 2 grams of marijuana.

You can also have up to 2 pounds of dried bud marijuana at your residence. However, this amount should not be transported in one go as you will get in trouble for this still.

Medical Marijuana In Minnesota

In 2014, the state of Minnesota passed a bill that legalized the use of marijuana as a medical treatment.

The SF2470 bill allowed the state to create a legal framework that allowed patients with qualifying conditions to be prescribed marijuana products that couldn’t be smoked.

This means that if you have a condition that qualifies you for medical marijuana you are entitled to marijuana products that can help to relieve your symptoms.

If you qualify for medical marijuana in Minnesota, you will not be able to access bud to smoke. Instead, you will be able to choose from pills, vapes, liquids, and edibles.

What Are The Penalties For Marijuana Possession?

If you are found to be in possession of more than 2 pounds of marijuana bud, you are likely to face penalties and legal repercussions.

Outlined below are the penalties for Marijuana possession prior to weed being legalized with the minimum amount of marijuana adjusted for the new legislation.

Quantities of weed between 900 grams and 10 kilograms are classified as a felony in Minnesota.

If you are caught with this amount of weed on your, you will be facing up to five years in prison and a fine of $10,000.

If you are found to be in possession of 10 to 50 kilograms of weed, the punishment is much more severe.

If found guilty, you could be facing a prison sentence of up to 20 years as well as a fine that can be as much as $250,000.

If you are found to be in possession of more than 50 kilograms of marijuana, the prison sentences become longer and the fines become much larger.

If you are caught selling cannabis to adults or minors, you will be given a prison sentence and a fine.

Although selling cannabis to anyone in Minnesota is illegal, selling cannabis to a minor is seen to be more heinous. Because of this, it carries a much more severe punishment than selling to adults.

If you are caught trying to sell cannabis to a minor, you will be facing up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Can You Smoke Weed In Public In Minnesota?

This is a question that most smokers want to know when it comes to consuming marijuana. In short, you cannot smoke weed in public in Minnesota. This rule also applies to medical marijuana patients.

As we mentioned above, even people who have access to medical marijuana are not granted access to cannabis buds or flowers. All of the medical marijuana that can be accessed in the state comes in non-smokable forms.

Even the non-smokable forms of cannabis, including pills and liquids, are not allowed to be consumed in public. All medical marijuana patients should consume their medicine within private residences.

Consuming cannabis in any form on school buses, school grounds, correctional facilities, or on the grounds of childcare facilities is a criminal offense and comes with appropriate charges.

Can You Travel With Weed In Minnesota?

It is legal to travel with personal use cannabis within Minnesota. However, the cannabis must come from a licensed dispensary within the state.

If you are found to be driving under the influence of cannabis, you will be prosecuted for a DUI. This applies to both recreational and medical users of cannabis.

You are not allowed to cross state lines with marijuana. This means that you cannot leave or enter the state with marijuana.

If you are caught doing this, it is considered to be drug trafficking. This offense comes with a prison sentence of 5 years and a $250,000 fine for amounts below 50 kilograms or 50 marijuana plants.

Can You Grow Weed In Minnesota?

Private cultivation of marijuana plants is currently banned in the state of Minnesota. This also applied to medical marijuana patients because medical marijuana has to come from a licensed dispensary.

What Is The Future Of Cannabis Legalization In Minnesota?

Now that weed has finally been legalized in Minnesota, residents can breathe a sigh of relief. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for growth in the future.

The rules on growing your own cannabis are still unclear in the new legislation. Once that has been cleared up, Minnesota residents can potentially begin to cultivate their own marijuana.

Final Thoughts

As of May 2023, the state of Minnesota legalized recreational use of marijuana. This is a huge step forward and the state acknowledged that prohibition doesn’t work in the war against drugs.

Now you can enjoy a personal amount of cannabis stress free in the state.

Learn more about Midwest weed laws and the legal status of cannabis in neighboring states:

• Is weed legal in Iowa?
• Is weed legal in North Dakota?
• Is weed legal in South Dakota?
• Is weed legal in Wisconsin?