Walz said he felt Floyd’s killing - and the mass protests that spawned several days of lawlessness on pockets of St. Our economic health was going to depend on closing the achievement gap because 60 percent of the jobs are going to come from communities of color in the next 20 years, but that was theoretical.”
“Theoretically, we tried to think about it,” he said of racial disparities and a prevailing sense of injustice among communities of color before Floyd’s death.
While Walz and the bulk of Democrats in Minnesota for years have placed closing racial inequities near the top of their lists of priorities, Walz acknowledged that the Black Floyd’s public murder in broad daylight on a Minneapolis street beneath the knee of a white police officer revealed a cruelness to what often had been reduced to egghead-sounding points of policy. “There’s folks that maybe just don’t feel safe here. But what had been bubbling up - and we’ve talked about it, the achievement gap in education and things like that - came slamming home. We rank right near the top in quality of life and so many of those indicators. “This state, rightfully so, has every reason to be incredibly proud of our accomplishments. “It made us look at a reality that was always there, whether we didn’t see it or we didn’t want to see it,” Walz said in an interview with the Pioneer Press in which he reflected on Floyd’s murder and its aftermath a year later. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues.George Floyd’s death laid bare the ‘Minnesota Paradox’ of racism Trisha Ahmed is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Ventura, an independent who doesn’t usually make endorsements, backed Walz over Republican Scott Jensen, and said legalization was one of the many reasons why. Ventura said in November that Walz had called him up the day after his reelection and said he expected a new legalization bill to pass. Low-strength gummies and beverages have been on sale since July.įormer Gov. Many lawmakers apparently didn’t realize what they were doing as it sailed through under the radar. Last year, the Legislature passed a bill legalizing THC in edible or drinkable form if it’s derived from hemp. In 2021, the Democratic-controlled House passed a legalization bill with several Republicans voting yes, but the GOP-controlled Senate never gave it a vote. Walz has long been a supporter of legalizing recreational marijuana for adults. With that power, they passed a long list of legislative priorities - including legalization - that the previous Senate Republican majority had blocked.
#Tim walz emails full#
Supporters have largely been Democrats, and opponents have largely been Republicans this session.ĭemocrats took full control of state government when the Legislature convened for its 2023 session, marking the first time in eight years they have held the “trifecta” of the Senate, House and governor’s office. Supporters of the legislation have said it will improve public health and safety and further social justice, while opponents have said health and safety will worsen. It ensures “that we are undoing some of the harm that we have done as a state through the prohibition of cannabis,” she said. Lindsey Port, of Burnsville, said at the ceremony. Others with more serious convictions, such as those with possession offenses that exceeded even the new limits, may also be able to apply for reduced sentences.Įxpunging criminal records of those charged with marijuana-related offenses is one of the most important pieces of the legislation, Democratic Sen.
However, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has estimated it will take until August of next year to process all cases. Minnesotans who have been convicted of misdemeanor or petty misdemeanor possession will also get their records automatically expunged.
#Tim walz emails plus#
Once licensed, stores will charge sales tax plus a 10% cannabis tax.
Retail sales at dispensaries will probably be at least a year away.
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