MN HF717

Establishes a Cannabis Task Force to advise the legislature on legal and policy issues related to legalization, taxation, and regulation of cannabis for adults 21 and older, explicitly stating the task force will gather facts rather than recommend whether to legalize.

Task force membership consists of 22 categories including four legislators, 13 state commissioners or designees, eight governor-appointed members with relevant expertise, and representatives from various professional associations and local government bodies.

Task force shall study potential effects of cannabis legalization on public safety, health, tax policy, and regulatory oversight, and consult with experts from other states that have legalized cannabis.

Task force must develop a comprehensive legalization plan covering statutory changes, taxation, state and local regulation, federal law considerations, public education, substance abuse treatment, expungement of nonviolent convictions, security, minority business access, and impaired driving prevention.

$100,000 appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of health in fiscal year 2019 for task force operations; task force must submit report by January 1, 2020, and automatically expires upon report submission.