Minnesota Agencies

The task force shall hold hearings to conduct an assessment that evaluates the impact of the use of medical cannabis and evaluates Minnesota's activities and other states' activities involving medical cannabis. The group shall offer analysis of the program design and implementation; the impact on the health care provider community; patient experiences; the impact on the incidence of substance abuse; access to and quality of medical cannabis and medical cannabis products; the impact on law enforcement and prosecutions; public awareness and perception; and any unintended consequences.

By February 1, 2015 the co-chairs of the task force must submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislature on the design and implementation of the registry program, and every two years after they will submit a impact assessment report. They will also submit a completed cost assessment. The task force may make recommendations to the legislature on whether to add or remove conditions from the list of qualifying medical conditions.
 

The 2014 Legislature passed a bill, SF 2470, that legalizes medical cannabis for specific illnesses. Minnesota is the 22nd state to grant some level of legal access to the drug for medicinal purposes, but it has the nation's most restrictive medical marijuana law. Unlike most states with medical marijuana laws, Minnesota does not allow the smoking of marijuana leaves. Only the use of pills, oils, or vaporizing of a cannabis compound through a device similar to an e-cigarette is allowed.

That bill also created the 23 member task force. All members must be appointed by July 15, 2014, and the commissioner of health shall convene the first meeting of the task force by August 1, 2014.

The task force does not expire.

As of 2014, 23 members. Membership includes: two members of the house of representatives, one selected by the speaker of the house, the other selected by the minority leader; two members of the senate, one selected by the majority leader, the other selected by the minority leader; four members representing consumers or patients enrolled in the registry program, two of whom must be parents of patients under the age of 18; three members representing health care providers; one licensed pharmacist; one member from the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association; one member from the Minnesota Sherrif's Association; one member from the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association; one member from the Minnesota County Attorneys Association; four members representing substance use disorder treatment providers; and the commissioners of health, human services, and public safety.
 

Minnesota Department of Health