Bar Buzz: Senate goes to pot and if you want to go with it, you'll need a ticket.

Byline: Kevin Featherly

We've seen a few ticketed committee hearings in the House in recent yearsparticularly when gun legislation is on the docket.

They haven't been as common in the Senate. Still, according to Senate Judiciary Chair Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, Monday's ticketed hearing in his Judiciary committee is not exactly off-the-charts weird.

"We see it from time to time," he said. "It's usually when we consider guns or labor issues."

But 1 p.m. Senate Judiciary hearingfor which you will need a ticket to attendisn't about guns and it isn't about workers. It's about pot. If you're hoping to get in, be forewarned that it's first come, first served. Clearly, a crowd is expected.

Sen. Melisa Franzen's Senate File 619 would legalize recreational use of cannabis for anyone who is at least 21 years old. It would allow regulated cultivation, consumption, use and possession of "cannabis, cannabis products and cannabis accessories."

The bill's House companion, House File 420 from Rep. Mike Freiberg, DFL-Golden Valley, awaits action in the House Health and Human Services Policy committee. Which means the GOP-led Senate Judiciary committee will act on it first.

"I believe it's something that's timely," said Limmer, who chooses which bills are heard in his committee. "I think the Legislature needs to have a full hearing."

That probably shouldn't be read as an endorsement by the GOP chair. He said he has invited testifiers both pro and con, from inside and outside the state to speak out on the measure. He says what he most wants to hear are the facts about pot policy.

"I have not heard of any concise, complete review of how this policy has turned...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT