Committee adopts amendments to House File 1615 and re-refers bill to Ways and Means

A Minnesota House committee on an introductory motion adopted two amendments to House File 1615 and re‑referred the bill to the Committee on Ways and Means.

The amendments approved in committee included an A1 to the DE1 amendment and the DE1 amendment as amended. Representative West moved the A1 amendment, which he described as an agreement between Chair Stevenson and himself to advance the bill and to "allow hemp manufacturers to participate in markets outside of Minnesota with non compliant products." Representative West said the A1 also "allows medical businesses to sell medical cannabis to other medically endorsed businesses or medical combo businesses and it strengthens their obligation to participate in the market." He added the A1 "deletes House File 1310 of the amendment."

Representative Stevenson, serving as chair for the hearing, encouraged committee members to support the A1 amendment, saying, "I do encourage a yes vote on the amendment," and noted ongoing conversations with Representative West and OCM about the amendment's contents. After the A1 was adopted, the committee voted to adopt the DE1 amendment as amended.

Following adoption of the amendments, Representative Stevenson moved that House File 1615, as amended, be re‑referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. The committee agreed by voice vote and the motion prevailed.

The committee record shows the committee heard earlier overviews of the bill and took testimony on separate days; Representative Stevenson said the bill "contains largely bills that were heard by this committee on separate days" and indicated additional work would continue as the bill moves through the process.