Opinion editor's note: Editorials represent the opinions of the Star Tribune Editorial Board, which operates independently from the newsroom.
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Minnesota's cannabis legalization bill has emerged in its final form, and it's a testament to the fact that the legislative process, as cumbersome as it may be at times, still works.
As once was common for major policy bills, this was a long process, with numerous committees each vetting and shaping the dimensions of legalization. The resulting bills had differences, though, and some significant areas needed attention even after passage. That's where House and Senate conference committee members came in, laboring to resolve differences and making needed improvements that will serve this state well.
Among the most significant of those: giving cities and counties more control over retail sales in their jurisdictions. The House bill initially called for a statewide cannabis office to determine the number of retail outlets for each area based on population. The Star Tribune Editorial Board and others voiced strong concerns about forcing cities and counties to allow businesses whose primary product is a recreational drug.
Fortunately, conference members have produced a bill that gives a measure of local control. It does not allow cities or counties to ban such establishments entirely, but it can limit them to one per 12,500 residents. Additionally, cities within that county can refuse additional licenses if a county meets a threshold of 1 to 10,000 countywide. This is an important measure that gives localities some voice. We are confident that cities and counties will respond to demand if such establishments thrive, don't pose a public safety hazard and add revenue.
It helps that the cannabis tax rate went from 8% in the House bill to the Senate's preferred 10%. Local jurisdictions will get 20% of that revenue to offset compliance and enforcement costs. That's fair.
Steps also were taken to ensure that Minnesota's medical marijuana industry would be somewhat protected. In their zeal to keep Big Cannabis out and keep businesses small, few provisions were made initially to protect against what had happened in other states: a dramatic shrinking of the medical market, which is the only market that can carry prescription-strength products available to children and others.