Minnesota is expected to legalize marijuana usage. What does that mean for Wisconsin?

A bill that would legalize recreational marijuana in Minnesota is heading to the governor's desk where it is expected to be signed into law. If/when Minnesota becomes the latest state to legalize, Wisconsin would be nearly entirely surrounded by states that decriminalized usage of the psychoactive drug.

With another neighbor making the move to legalize, we wanted to know how the new law could affect Wisconsin. Here's what you should know.

Will Minnesota pass the bill legalizing marijuana?

The Minnesota state house and senate both passed bills that would legalize recreational marijuana use and possession by people over the age of 21, the Associated Press reported.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has pledged to sign it into law.

When will you be able to use marijuana in Minnesota?

According to Minnesota Public Radio, marijuana use will not be allowed everywhere. The bill, if signed into law, would allow for usage on private land and in private residences by persons 21 and older.

More: Illinois collected $36 million taxes from Wisconsinites for marijuana, new report says

Possession and even growing weed is not likely be allowed immediately after the bill becomes law. The current estimate for possession to be legal is Aug. 1, according to the conference report headed to the Minnesota House and Senate for a vote.

Medicinal marijuana use has been legal in Minnesota since 2014.

Can Wisconsinites bring marijuana back from states where its legal?

No. In fact, transporting marijuana from one state to another is a federal crime because cannabis is still illegal under federal law.

When will Minnesota businesses be able to sell marijuana?

There is no official timeline on when dispensaries will be operational. According to MPR, it could take up to a year for the state government to set up regulatory structures and the licensing framework for businesses.

Will there be a sales tax on marijuana in Minnesota?

Yes. The bill calls for a 10% tax on cannabis products on top of existing sales taxes and limits possession of cannabis flower to 2 pounds at home and 2 ounces in public, according to the Associated Press. Other possession caps include 800 milligrams of THC in gummies and other edibles and 8 grams of cannabis concentrate.

Does Wisconsin lose revenue by not legalizing?

In short, yes. For example, Illinois collected $36 million in tax revenue from Wisconsin residents purchasing marijuana in the Land of Lincoln where cannabis is legal, according to a state estimate released in March.

According to the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimate based on data from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, revenue from sales to out-of-state residents in Wisconsin-adjacent counties accounted for about 8% of the $462 million in tax revenue Illinois officials received in 2022 from sales of marijuana products.

What is the state of marijuana use in Wisconsin?

Marijuana use, both medical and recreational, is still illegal in Wisconsin. Penalties for possession vary. A first offense in a misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of 6 months in prison and a $1,000 fine. Additional offenses are charged as felonies.

What are laws in other states bordering Wisconsin?

Wisconsin is entirely surrounded by states that have made the psychoactive drug legal for medical and/or recreational use. Michigan legalized recreational and medicinal use in 2018. Illinois followed suit in 2019. Iowa legalized medicinal marijuana in 2017.

Will Wisconsin legalize marijuana?

Wisconsin has toyed with the idea of legalization in the past. Gov. Tony Evers has said he would approve legalization in the state. State Sen. Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu said in January that Republican lawmakers in the state Senate are "close" to supporting the legalization of marijuana in Wisconsin for medical use.

There is no current plan to legalize medical or recreational marijuana in Wisconsin.

How many states have legalized marijuana?

Not including Minnesota, 22. Minnesota would be the 23rd state to legalize recreational use.

Drew Dawson can be reached at ddawson@jrn.com or 262-289-1324.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Minnesota to legalize marijuana use; What does it mean for Wisconsin?