The U.S. Forest Service is reminding those who Minnesota’s new marijuana legalization legislation enacted this week doesn’t imply folks can possess or use hashish at nationwide forests within the state—so it recommends shopping for a map to know the place you may and might’t indulge.
On Tuesday—the identical day that adult-use marijuana legalization took impact in Minnesota—the Forest Service issued an alert, notifying the general public that possessing any quantity of hashish “remains to be prohibited on all Nationwide Forest lands and in any respect Nationwide Forest campgrounds and amenities.”
“Forest officers ask guests to be conscious of Nationwide Forest System boundaries and to turn out to be aware of related federal and state laws previous to visiting the Chippewa and/or Superior Nationwide Forests,” it says.
The company, which additionally despatched out a discover final month to remind federal employees that they continue to be barred from utilizing marijuana even in authorized states, mentioned that it’s obtained questions from guests concerning the “legality of marijuana use on public lands” because the Minnesota legislature moved to finish prohibition on the state degree.
“Whereas leisure hashish use could also be authorized within the State of Minnesota, efficient August 1, 2023, Chippewa and Superior Nationwide Forest officers are reminding guests that it’s unlawful on Nationwide Forest System lands,” it mentioned.
An FAQ part explains how nationwide forests are federally regulated and, due to this fact, federal legislation applies and supersedes the state’s newly carried out coverage.
For folks interested in the place precisely the nationwide forest boundary is to tell their journey, the Forest Service says that “maps can be found at our all of our District Ranger stations and to buy on-line.”
The company is urging folks to be “conscious” and “turn out to be aware of related federal and state laws previous to visiting the Chippewa and Superior Nationwide Forests.”
Minnesota’s legalization legislation has additionally just lately caught the eye of one other federal company: the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Simply hours after Gov. Tim Walz (D) signed the reform invoice into legislation in Could, ATF issued a discover reminding individuals who use hashish stay federally banned from buying and possessing weapons, whatever the state legislation.
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Marijuana possession and cultivation grew to become authorized for adults 21 and older in Minnesota on Tuesday—and a local tribe additionally launched the primary gross sales within the state whereas regulators work to arrange a licensing infrastructure for conventional retailers.
The legislation additionally formally created the Workplace of Hashish Administration (OCM), which launched final month. It will likely be the first regulatory physique that may oversee the market and for which the governor is actively in search of an govt director.
One other physique that has been instituted is the Hashish Expungement Board, which can facilitate file sealing for folks with eligible marijuana convictions on their information. The evaluation course of for eligible circumstances will begin on Tuesday.
The state has proven that it’s wanting to expeditiously arise the trade. Even earlier than Walz signed the reform invoice, the state launched a web site that serves as a hub for details about the brand new legislation. Officers have additionally already began soliciting distributors to assist construct a licensing system for leisure marijuana companies.
A separate Minnesota legislation additionally took impact on Tuesday that legalizes drug paraphernalia possession, syringe providers, managed substances residue and testing.
Photograph courtesy of Philip Steffan.