Under current rules, Minnesota treats medical and adult-use cannabis as biologically identical but operationally separate. The same flower must be grown in different rooms and manufactured at different times, and it can only be sold for its originally intended market — even if demand is higher elsewhere. This creates unnecessary complexity and financial burden for cannabis businesses — just as the current purchasing and possession limits burden patients.
We’ve seen what happens in other states when medical programs are overlooked after adult-use legalization. Products become harder to find, prices rise and patients lose access to the specialized formulations they depend on. Businesses naturally shift their focus to the more profitable adult-use market, and medical programs suffer.
Minnesota’s medical program is already fragile. If we allow the adult-use rollout to sideline medical products, families like mine — who once relied on this medicine to stabilize a child’s health — may once again find themselves without access. The children who rely on medical cannabis today can’t afford to wait for the market to settle. They need reliable, affordable options now.
Much of the cannabis conversation in Minnesota has centered on licensing, rollout timelines and business regulations. I understand the need to ensure fairness in a new industry, but if we don’t prioritize patients, we risk repeating the same mistakes seen elsewhere — and continuing to leave Minnesotans with a broken medical system.
This isn’t about expanding eligibility. It’s about ensuring that those who already qualify can safely and affordably access the medicine they need. Lawmakers have a real opportunity this session to strengthen access for patients. Supply chain unification would bring long-overdue relief to families across the state and ensure that medical cannabis users aren’t left behind as the broader market takes shape.
In recent weeks, patients, families and advocates have been reaching out to members of the cannabis policy conference committee, urging them not to let this session end without addressing the future of medical cannabis access. So far, those concerns have largely gone unanswered. But this Friday, patients will testify directly before the committee, hoping for one last chance to be heard. I hope lawmakers are listening.
