April 29 (UPI) — The Minnesota state Senate voted to approve marijuana legalization in a historic vote held Friday, paving the way for recreational sales in the state. The bill passed 34-33 along party lines, with all Democrats voting in favor of the law and all Republicans voting against it. The state House, also controlled by Democrats, passed its marijuana legalization measure on Tuesday.
While both bills allow adults over 21 to purchase up to two ounces of cannabis for recreational use, they have inconsistencies on tax issues and the status of marijuana possession at private residences.
The Senate bill imposes a 10% tax on recreational marijuana products while the House bill calls for an 8% gross receipt tax over four years.
Additionally, the Senate bill lets cities choose how many legal dispensaries they will allow in their jurisdiction, while the House bill does not.
The Senate bill allows people to possess up to two pounds of purchased marijuana at their homes and up to five pounds of cultivated marijuana, while the House bill has a standardized limit of 1.5 pounds.
Those differences will have to be ironed out to create a single bill that can be signed into law by Gov. Tim Walz, who supports the measures.
The bill would automatically expunge misdemeanor…