Second time’s a charm for omnibus cannabis bill

The omnibus cannabis policy bill was resurrected and sent on its way Thursday, albeit as a much skinnier version.

Confusion over a provision in the tentative agreement for HF4203 led to the amended bill's defeat by the House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee Wednesday. But after consultation between the committee chairs and the leads on the bill, Rep. Jessica Hanson (DFL-Burnsville) and Rep. Nolan West (R-Blaine), a decision was made to bring the bill back, remove a delete-all amendment and send the bill to the House Ways and Means Committee in its original form.

The committee did just that with a split-voice vote.

That process lets Hanson, West and others who have an interest in the cannabis industry continue to work on an amendment that can be taken up in ways and means, Co-Chair Rep. Tim O'Driscoll (R-Sartell) said.

Co-Chair Rep. Erin Koegel (DFL-Spring Lake Park) added, “We want to continue to work on this. We want to actually get some good policy done.”