Minnesota’s Legal Marijuana Landscape: Few Users, But Strong Support for National Legalization
Despite Minnesota’s legalization of adult-use cannabis over a year ago, a recent poll suggests that only a small percentage of residents have recently used the drug. According to the poll, conducted by MPR News, KARE 11, and the Minnesota Star Tribune, just 14% of respondents reported consuming marijuana or THC-infused hemp products in the past month.
However, the same poll found that a majority of respondents, 61%, support the legalization of cannabis at the federal level. The poll surveyed 800 likely voters and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
The low usage numbers may be attributed to accessibility and education, according to Zach Wilson, CEO of the Waabigwan Mashkiki dispensary, which is operated by the White Earth Nation. Wilson believes that once dispensaries open statewide, the number of users will increase. The dispensary has seen a steady flow of customers, with around 4,000-5,000 people per month.
The poll’s results are consistent with the state’s current regulatory landscape. While Minnesota has legalized cannabis for personal use, it is still not widely available for sale to consumers as the state sets rules for production, transportation, and retail sales.
Some business owners, like James Elliott of Lakes Area Grow Co. in Fergus Falls, are torn about the issue. Elliott supports local, small-scale cannabis cultivation and is concerned that federal legalization would open the door to interstate commerce, which could hurt mom-and-pop businesses.
Others, like Tyler Rock, a cultivation technician at Waabigwan Mashkiki, are optimistic about the future of cannabis in Minnesota. Rock believes that once the state begins off-reservation retail sales, more people will be able to access and use cannabis.
The poll’s findings highlight the complex and evolving landscape of cannabis in Minnesota. As the state continues to shape its regulations and rules, it remains to be seen how the legal marijuana industry will develop and whether more Minnesotans will take advantage of the newly legal drug.
