Minnesota Now

Minnesota’s move in July to legalize the sale of food and beverages containing small amounts of hemp-derived THC was the state’s biggest step toward legalizing cannabis. Months later, the law continues to generate equal amounts of interest and confusion.

Under the law, Minnesotans can buy food and beverages that contain up to 5 milligrams of THC per serving, with a limit of 50 milligrams per package. THC is the psychoactive compound that delivers the high associated with marijuana.

People, though, remain unsure of what the law allows, or the differences between hemp, THC and marijuana and where they fit in, said Susan Burns, a cannabis attorney in Minnesota.

“So you're trying to educate legislators, you're trying to educate a city council, you're trying to educate city attorneys. You're trying to educate mayors, and it's because people don't know what it is. They're a little bit afraid of it,” she told MPR News host Cathy Wurzer on Monday.

Even with the state law, cities are deciding to do what works best for them by issuing moratoriums. This makes some activities, such as possessing and selling edibles, temporarily prohibited.

Burns mentioned one unnamed city that’s decided to make breaking the city imposed ordinance a misdemeanor offense. Mounds, Hastings, Nisswa, Shakopee, Marshall, Plymouth are just a few across the state that enacted temporary moratoriums.

For now, they don’t have to follow the state law for legalizations of THC edibles. They can enact an interim waiting period of usually six months to year and decide if they believe it would aid or harm their communities.

For business owners, this means conflict.

If they continue to sell edibles in a city with a waiting period, they could be breaking the law. Burns said it happens often, and can be expensive to deal with when going against state laws and city ordinances.

Even with the confusion, Burns said the law is a step in the right direction and she’s hoping the upcoming legislative session cleans up law.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. 

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