ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota House Education Finance Committee is the ninth panel to approve a bill that would legalize recreational cannabis.
Republican Pam Altendorf of Red Wing said data from a child psychiatrist in Colorado show the “detrimental” effects of legal marijuana.
“There was a decline in grades. There was an increase in car accidents, an increase in children not attending school, and an increase in dropouts,” Altendorf said.
DFL Rep. Zack Stephenson of Coon Rapids said there’s data on teen cannabis use from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
“The level of teen consumption of cannabis – that actually shows a decline in cannabis consumption in states that have legalized cannabis,or hold steady to a slight decline in Colorado and Washington,” Stephenson said.
Stephenson said there’s a lot in the bill focused on keeping cannabis away from young people.
The products would have child-proof packaging and labels, and Minnesota Poison Control contact information.