FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 29, 2022
Media Contact:
Laura Monn Ginsburg
laura@bluntstrategies.com
952-239-9150
PRO-LEGALIZATION ADVOCATES LAUNCH NEXT PHASE OF ‘MN IS READY’ CAMPAIGN
Campaign will advocate for passage of comprehensive adult-use cannabis legislation in
2023 that prioritizes safety, equity, and Minnesota businesses
Formed by the three leading legalization advocacy groups in Minnesota, MN is Ready is the
state’s largest and most diverse coalition of cannabis policy stakeholders
Outgoing House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler will join the effort as campaign chair
Minneapolis, MN – Pro-legalization advocates launched today the next phase of MN is Ready, a comprehensive strategic campaign to legalize adult-use cannabis in Minnesota. The new phase of the campaign brings together the largest and most diverse coalition of cannabis policy stakeholders in Minnesota – including industry members, aligned advocacy groups, community advocates, and other supporters – to engage grassroots constituencies and work directly with lawmakers to pass full adult-use cannabis legalization in 2023.
The campaign also announced that outgoing House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler will join the campaign as its new chair. In 2019, Winkler launched the "Be Heard on Cannabis" tour of community listening sessions on cannabis legalization in 15 cities across the state. In 2021, Winkler introduced H.F. 600, Minnesota’s first comprehensive adult-use legalization bill, which the Minnesota House passed that same year.
The campaign is managed by political strategist Leili Fatehi of public affairs firm Apparatus GBC. The leadership team also includes veteran fundraiser Chris Kluthe, who serves as the campaign’s development director, and cannabis policy expert Maren Schroeder, who will direct the campaign’s industry and public engagement efforts. The campaign has retained lobbyists Will Blauvelt, director of government relations at Stinson LLP, and Henry Erdman to lead its work at the State Capitol.
The campaign’s growing coalition of supporters includes the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), the ACLU of Minnesota, the Great Rise, Americans for Prosperity, the Minnesota Cannabis Beverage Association, and many Minnesota cannabis businesses including growers, processors, manufacturers, and retailers.
The MN is Ready campaign was started in 2019 by Minnesotans for Responsible Marijuana Regulation (MRMR), a grasstops advocacy effort formed to catalyze legislative leadership on cannabis legalization at the Minnesota Capitol. Following the introduction and passage of H.F. 600 in 2021, the campaign spun off the MN is Ready Political Action Fund and the MN is Ready Coalition, a multi-stakeholder voter education effort led by Minnesota’s three leading legalization advocacy groups (MRMR, Sensible Change MN, and Minnesota NORML), and was a strong voice in electing a pro-legalization majority to the Minnesota legislature. For this next phase, the campaign has formed MN is Ready Action, a 501(c)(4) entity that will support and advocate for the passage of adult-use legalization consistent with six core principles and objectives:
Supporting a Minnesota-first industry that benefits local economies, craft businesses, and workers
Investing in racial equity to ensure those communities disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition can participate in the success of the legal marketplace
Establishing statewide standards for a single, well-regulated cannabis marketplace rather than a patchwork of local regulations
Creating a successful legal cannabis market subject to reasonable taxation and regulation so that it that can compete with and eliminate the illegal market
Expunging the criminal records of those who have been convicted of nonviolent cannabis offenses and helping individuals and communities heal from the injustices of prohibition
Directing taxes paid by cannabis users to fund reality-based risk mitigation including impaired driver detection, chemical dependency treatment, and mental health recovery
The campaign will strongly push for passing a legalization bill during the 2023 legislative session.
“We know that the majority of Minnesotans agree that it’s time to legalize and regulate adult-use cannabis,” said Winkler. “The bill we passed in the House in 2021 went through more than a dozen committees and has since been updated and is ready for reintroduction. I’m confident it’s the right bill and the right time. Minnesota is ready for full legalization.”
“What we saw in this year’s election was a coalescence and commitment by the House and Senate majorities to make legalization a reality,” said Fatehi. “There is an unquestionable mandate from Minnesota voters.”
More information about MN is Ready can be found at mnisready.org.
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