NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE John Hausladen

August 22, 2022 651-295-5672

MAML Calls for Governor Walz, Attorney General Ellison and the
Legislature
to Address Dangers of THC in Edibles and Beverages
Minnesotans Against Marijuana Legalization (MAML) today urged Governor Tim Walz, Attorney
General Keith Ellison and the State Legislature to take the necessary steps to address the dangers of the
law that legalizes tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in certain edibles and beverages.

MAML recommends the following three steps:

First, AG Ellison should take the necessary legal action to suspend sales of all THC products that are
packaged in ways that mimic other non-THC products. The recent experience with THC gummies being
distributed in Two Harbors and causing two children to be sent to a hospital emergency room illustrates
the danger of THC infused products that look like candy. THC products should be packaged in a child-
proof way that makes it obvious that the product is not a normal consumer candy or product.

Second, Governor Walz and the administration should immediately establish a public education campaign
that informs the public of the risks associated with the new law. This should include clear information for
parents and educators about the possession by minors loophole in the law, the poisoning risk associated
with consumption by children, and general awareness education about the impairment risk from THC
edibles for employees, employers, drivers and first responders.

Third, legislative action must be taken next session. The best legislative fix is to repeal the existing law
and pass a bill that sets standards for THC-containing products through a normal public process where all
the safety issues can be discussed and addressed. If the Legislature and or Governor are not willing to
repeal the law, the law must be significantly amended. Under the current law, the safety of children,
drivers and other road users, and employees and employers is compromised because the legislation was
rushed through an end-of-session negotiation without a full vetting of its serious negative consequences.
The public safety and public health harms are well known from the use of products that contain
intoxicating levels of THC. We know this because of the data that is constantly emerging from other
states that have already allowed THC to be commercialized.

The following issues should have been part of the public policy debate last session, are just cause to
repeal the law, or at a minimum, need to be addressed in either a special session or the 2023 Minnesota
Legislative Session:

1. Warning Labels - There is no requirement for warning labels on these products declaring THC
to be a danger to a user’s mental health and having an adverse effect on judgement and physical
coordination. Such warning labels are required on alcohol and tobacco products because of their
risks.

Minnesotans Against Marijuana Legalization I 6160 Summit Dr. N #330, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430 I 651-646-7351 |
mta@mntruck.org
 2. Testing Requirements - There are no testing requirements to determine the potency and mixture
of the THC isomers contained in the product or regulation on which establishments are eligible to
sell the product so that inspectors can examine a defined universe of retailers.
3. Sales Restrictions - No consideration was given to the time of day that THC edibles can be sold
or how old one needs to be to sell them, unlike the regulation of alcohol and other addictive and
impairing substances.
4. Public Education - Legislators failed to consider a broad well-funded education program to help
citizens understand the different effects of cannabidiol, delta-8 THC, delta-9 THC, and delta-10
THC. This includes educating employers on the impacts and options for dealing with THC
impairment in the workplace.
5. Children and Pregnancy Risk Education – There was no requirement for a specific preventive
educational program that informs of the harms to the developing brain of the fetus due to use
during pregnancy, and a program for school age children about the potential harms of THC
edibles.
6. Quantity Limitations - There are no limitations on the quantity of individual purchases to
mitigate binge use, over-consumption, and large-scale diversion to non-purchasers. Quantity
limitations are common in other states who have adopted some forms of legal THC.
7. Regulatory Responsibility – No regulatory authority or responsibilities were identified in the
bill as passed. The regulatory authority, the scope and range of the authority and the interaction
of state level authority with local authorities need to be defined to manage the safe and lawful
sale and consumption of THC containing products.
8. True Cost Assessment - There is no directive to review the amount of taxes raised from THC
sales and the sum of losses from the likely increase in mental health and substance use service
needs, traffic and roadway injuries and deaths, and from the detrimental effects on student
learning and workplace performance. There is no portion of the taxes from the sales dedicated to
recouping the public costs to the state, counties and cities for these events and the increased need
for treatment of cannabis use disorder plus other law enforcement involvement.
9. Collateral Impacts - The was no public consideration of the unintended consequences and costs,
including the number of suspensions of high school students due to cannabis use, the number of
citizens treated for psychosis, depression and anxiety as related to THC use, and the proliferation
of THC byproducts or substitutes, which may be toxic.
10. Disparities Assessment - There is no mechanism to assess the differences in the disparities of
harm across communities and demographic groups.
Limited and rushed public and legislative debate leading to a bill without common-sense safety measures
is wrong, unsafe and not the Minnesota way. We have the ability to make this better. We urge Governor
Walz, Attorney General Ellison and the Minnesota Legislature to act now to suspend dangerous sales,
educate the public and to fix this flawed legislation.

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Minnesotans Against Marijuana Legalization I 6160 Summit Dr. N #330, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430 I 651-646-7351 |
mta@mntruck.org
 Minnesotans Against Marijuana Legalization (MAML) is a coalition to prevent legalization of
recreational marijuana in Minnesota.  We believe recreational marijuana should not be legalized in
Minnesota without considering the negative impacts that such a policy will have on our roads,
workplaces, communities, and homes, and without providing the statutory, technical and financial
resources needed to address the negative impacts.

 Insurance Federation of Minnesota

 Midwest Food Products Association
 Minnesota Beverage Association
 Minnesota Catholic Conference
 Minnesota Food Products Association
 Minnesota Charter Bus Operators Association
 Minnesota Police & Peace Officers Association
 Minnesota Professional Towing Association
 Minnesota Propane Association
 Minnesota Safety Council
 Minnesota School Bus Operators Association
 Minnesota Sheriff’s Association
 Minnesota Trucking Association
 Minnesota Utility Contractors Association
 Smart Approaches to Marijuana Minnesota

Minnesotans Against Marijuana Legalization I 6160 Summit Dr. N #330, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430 I 651-646-7351 |
mta@mntruck.org