As Democratic state lawmakers are looking to legalize recreational marijuana in Minnesota, one official in Olmsted County is raising concerns over the law’s potential effect on road safety and other issues.
Last week, DFL members of the Minnesota Legislature unveiled their proposed bill for legal adult-use recreational marijuana. Committee hearings for the bill are scheduled to start as soon as this week.
And after last November’s midterm election saw DFLers gain control of both chambers of the Legislature, many lawmakers have indicated they believe legal marijuana could pass this session. Gov. Tim Walz has already indicated he would sign such legislation.
But the proposed bill has not been without pushback. In a Friday Facebook post, Olmsted County Sheriff Kevin Torgerson raised concerns about how legalizing marijuana could affect road safety.
“How many more people will our state legislators say is ok to be killed on our highways by more impaired drivers on our roads?” Torgerson wrote.
“Will it be acceptable in your family if a family member is a victim of a high driver enjoying his legalized freedom to use MJ and drive, but take the life of your son or daughter on their way home from school, or a game, or concert?”
But what does available data say about impaired driving incidents in places that have already legalized recreational marijuana? It’s complicated.
Since Colorado became one of the first states to legalize recreational marijuana in 2012, citations…
