SIOUX COMMUNITY A SOVEREIGN TRIBAL NATION IN SCOTT COUNTY.

>> WELCOME TO AL NAG AT THE CAPITOL, I'M MARY LAHAMMER COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE HOUSE GALLERY WHERE LAKERS WILL BE RECONVENING SHORTLY BEHIND US AND WE HAVE HOUSE MAJORITY JAMIE LONG AND MINORITY LEADER LISA DEMUTH.

THEY'LL BE ON JUST A FEW MINUTES, WE'LL MEET A FIRST-TERMER WITH ROOTS IN THE TECH INDUSTRY AND CHAIR OF THE CIVILITY CAUCUS.

FIRST LET'S START WITH NEWS OF MARIJUANA IN LEGISLATION THIS WEEK.

>> AN RELATING TO CANNABIS.

>> THE HOUSE PASSED AN ENORMOUS MORE THAN 300-PAGE BILL TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA IN MINNESOTA.

>> THE BILL IS PASSED AS AMENDED AS AMENDED AND ITS TITLE AGREED.

TO.

>> MADAM SPEAKER.

>> 16 COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND OVER A DOZEN REPUBLICAN AMENDMENTS ADOPTED INTO THE BILL WE ARE GOING TO PASS A BILL TO LEGAL CANNABIS OFF THE HOUSE FOR TODAY.

IT'S TIME.

MINNESOTANS DESERVE THE FREEDOM AND RESPECT TO MAKE RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS ABOUT CANNABIS THEMSELVES.

>> BIPARTISAN SUPPORT WAS REAL BUT SO ARE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ABOUT POT IN THE STATE.

>> THE MAJORITY OF MINNESOTANS AGREE THAT THE TIME TO END MARIJUANA PROHIBITION IS HERE.

>> THERE'S A BROAD ARRAY OF VIEWPOINTS IN THE PARTY AND AMONG OUR CAUCUS.

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT LEGALIZATION, SOME PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT DECRIMINALIZATION?

SOME PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT EXPUNGEMENT.

BUT WE ALL NO MATTER WHERE YOU LAND ON THOSE ISSUES, THIS BILL HAS A LOT OF FLAWS.

>> PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER CONCERNS, THOSE COME WITH A COST, THOSE COME WITH A COST PARTICULARLY TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES WHO WILL BEAR THE BRUNT OF THAT COST WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THE PUBLIC EXPECTS US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT TAKING RESOURCES FROM THE GENERAL FUND OR OUR SCHOOLS OR OUR NURSING HOMES OR ANYTHING ELSE TO PAY TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA.

>> A LONG DEBATE STARTED AFTER DARK AND STRETCHED INTO A SECOND DAY.

>> THERE IS NO CURRENT TEST LIKE A ROADSIDE TEST LIKE WE DO WITH ALCOHOL FOR CANNABIS THAT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS CAN USE.

>> AS A FORMER LEADER IN THE CANNABIS COMMUNITY I TRAVELED THIS STATE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS TALKING TO MINNESOTANS BORDER TO BORDER AND THE PEOPLE WHO SHOWED UP TO MAKE SURE THEIR VOICES WERE HEARD ON THIS BILL WERE OVERWHELMING ASKING US TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE JUSTICE, AND THAT'S WHAT DEFINING SOCIAL EQUITY APPLICANTS DO IN A GOOD LEGAL MARKET.

>> THIS BILL IS NOT READY FOR MINNESOTA WHEN IT'S PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS AND WHO GETS TO PARTICIPATE.

>> THERE ARE HYBRIDS THAT ARE REALLY POTENT.

THIS IS, THIS IS A NEW KIND OF A MARIJUANA.

>> IN STATES THAT THEY'VE DONE THIS ALREADY, NUMBER OF DEATHS AND DEADLY CRASHES INVOLVING MARIJUANA HAVE DRAMATICALLY INCREASED.

>> THE SENATE HAS -- SCHEDULED TO TAKE THEIR FIRST VOTE SOON.

>> I THINK WE DO HAVE THE VOTES IN THE SENATE.

I THINK THIS IS THE YEAR IT GETS DONE.

IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT LAST YEAR THE BILL DIDN'T GET ANY HEARINGS IN THE SENATE.

THIS YEAR IT'S MOVED THROUGH LIKE 15 SENATE