Republican Majority Leader Paul Gazelka says a bill legalizing recreational marijuana doesn’t have a chance of passing the Minnesota Senate this year. Gazelka points to problems with distracted driving, adolescent development, drug abuse and homelessness, saying “at the same time this year we’re talking about increasing funding for [prevention of] opioid abuse, and suddenly we want to legalize marijuana. It just seems like it’s going the opposite direction.”
But Chaska Republican Senator and physician Scott Jensen argues lawmakers must have the discussion and get in front of the issue. “If we get behind, we’re gonna have kids using it. We’re gonna have marketing going on that’s gonna absolutely lure them in,” Jensen warns. Republican Leader Gazelka says it would not surprise him if there’s a hearing of some sort on legalizing recreational marijuana but adds, “I don’t think it has a chance to pass the Senate this year.”