Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Legislative News and Views - Rep. Ryan Winkler (DFL)

Back to profile

What we can learn from Colorado

Friday, November 22, 2019

New Logo - Be Heard on Cannabis

 

Dear Neighbors,

This week, I was joined by guests from Colorado who discussed Colorado's experience legalizing cannabis and lessons we can take away from a state that has seen broad benefits from legalization. 

The former Boulder County District Attorney Stanley Garnett and former City Attorney Doug Friednash, who was also Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper’s Chief of Staff, joined us for two Be Heard on Cannabis conversations, in Eden Prairie and Woodbury. Some takeaways:

  • We now have the benefit of learning from their experience and their mistakes. From packaging, potency, and warnings, to involved regulatory agencies, licensing, and law enforcement funding, we can draw on their experience to get legalization right. 
  • Though neither supported legalization from the outset, they now have seen that for public safety and public health, a regulated market has been far better than an underground one. 
  • Legalization will help lift restrictions on research and detection technology. 
  • Illegal growing and selling, including providing cannabis to minors, is still rigorously enforced, even after legalization. 

You can read more about their visit from MPR here

Upcoming Be Heard on Cannabis Conversations 

You can always stay up to date on our events on my Facebook page so you know where we'll be! Here are details for our upcoming planned meetings. 

Maple Grove:
When: Thursday, December 5th at 6:00pm
Where: Maple Grove Government Center, 12800 Arbor Lakes Pkwy N, Maple Grove, MN
Who: Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, Rep. Kristin Bahner

Austin:
When: Saturday, December 7th at 11:00am
Where: Austin City Council Room, 500 4th Ave NE, Austin, MN
Who: Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, Rep. Jeanne Poppe

South Minneapolis:
When: Wednesday, December 18, 7:00pm
Where: East Phillips Park Cultural & Community Center, 2307 17th Ave S., Minneapolis
Who: Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, Assistant Senate Minority Leader Jeff Hayden, Rep. Jim Davnie, Rep. Aisha Gomez, Rep. Mohamud Noor

Shakopee:
When: Wednesday, January 29th at 6:00pm
Where: Shakopee VFW - 1201 3rd Ave E, Shakopee, MN 55379, USA
Who: Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, Rep. Brad Tabke

w


c

Business leaders and entrepreneurs shared opportunities for the business community in legalizing cannabis for adult use at CannCon earlier this month

How you can help 

1. Come to our events, and bring a friend who's undecided or wants to learn more about cannabis. 
2. Send us a short (30-second or 1-minute) video explaining why it's important for Minnesota to legalize cannabis for adult use. We'll select a few and share them on social media!
3. Talk to your State Senator or State Representative. Not sure who that is? Find them here.
4. Write a letter to the editor to your local paper explaining why you support legalizing cannabis for adult use. Not sure where to begin? Reach out to claire.lancaster@house.mn. 


As always, don't hesitate to reach out with questions and suggestions! 
 

Sincerely,

Ryan Winkler 
Majority Leader

www.house.mn/cannabis

 

 

#BeHeardOnCannabis