Minnesota Senate passes marijuana bill, headed to Governor Walz for approval.

The Minnesota Senate has passed a bill legalizing cannabis for recreational use, making Minnesota the 23rd state to do so. The bill would allow adults to grow and possess limited quantities of marijuana without criminal penalties, and set up a new board to oversee licensing of cannabis retailers. Gov. Tim Walz has said he plans to sign the bill into law. The state has also passed a human services budget bill that boosts personal care attendant pay, creates new recruitment and retention incentive grants for caregivers, and starts up a new $100 million zero-interest loan program for struggling nursing homes. Additionally, a broad health and human services bill has been unveiled that would expand eligibility for MinnesotaCare, the state-run insurance program, and make people in the country without authorization eligible for the program. The proposal would also strike existing restrictions on abortion in the state and pull state funding from centers that advocate for abortion alternatives.