Congressional Delegation must Fix Hemp-Derived THC Ban, Says DFL Commerce Committee Senators

(ST. PAUL, MN) – Thecontinuing resolution signed by President Trump last week included an overbroad and unvetted federal ban on hemp-derived THC products. The last minute-provision caps hemp products at .4 milligrams of THC and will act as a ban on this fast-growing and well-regulated industry while devastating thousands of small businesses in Minnesota. DFL members of the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee which includes Chair Matt Klein (DFL – Mendota Heights), Vice Chair Judy Seeberger (DFL – Afton), and Senators Nick Frentz (DFL – North Mankato), Ron Latz (DFL – St. Louis Park), Ann Rest (DFL – New Hope) and Melissa H. Wiklund (DFL – Bloomington), have issued the following statement:

“In Minnesota we are proud of our nation leading regulatory framework for hemp-derived THC products. Our system was designed to keep children safe and ensure products are responsibly manufactured and sold. The language dropped into the continuing resolution to end the shutdown does nothing to target unregulated products that have been cause for concern in other states. Instead, it punishes states like Minnesota where we have built a thoughtful and responsible system, decimates businesses who have played by the rules, and erases economic activity that has generated tens of millions in sales revenue for our state.

Minnesota is home to more than 10% of all hemp-beverage companies in the country, and these products have provided a needed boost for small businesses navigating a changing alcohol market. For more and more breweries, THC beverages now outsell beer.

While our small business owners must brace themselves for the impact of this abrupt change, we will be fighting for a federal fix and doing everything we can at the state level to lessen the blow. The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee will hold a hearing in the new year to fully understand the impact of this change on Minnesotans and our marketplace. We call on our congressional delegation to act promptly to fix this overbroad and misguided change that punishes our state.”

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Matt Klein represents Senate District 53 which includes Inver Grove Heights, South Saint Paul, West Saint Paul, Saint Paul Park, Cottage Grove, Newport, Mendota Heights, Lilydale, Sunfish Lake, Grey Cloud Island Township.

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Senator Judy Seeberger represents Senate District 41 which includes Afton, Cottage Grove, Hastings, and Lake Elmo. She is vice chair of the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee, and serves on the Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development Committee as well as the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee.

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Senator Nick Frentz
Nick Frentz represents Senate District 18, which includes Ridgely Township, West Newton Township, Lafayette Township, Lafayette, Bernadotte Township, Brighton Township, Courtland Township, Courtland, New Sweden Township, Granby Township, Nicollet, Nicollet Township, Belgrade Township, North Mankato, Mankato, Eagle Lake, Lime Township, Kasota, Saint Peter, Lake Prairie Township, Traverse Township, and Oshawa Township. Senator Frentz is Chair of the Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate Committee and Vice Chair on the Finance, Capital Investment, Commerce and Consumer Protection
and Rules and Administration Committees.

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Ron Latz represents District 46, which includes portions of Hennepin County in the western Twin Cities metropolitan area.

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Ann Rest represents District 43, which includes portions of the western suburbs of Hennepin County in the Twin Cities metro area.

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Senator Melissa Wiklund
Melissa Wiklund represents District 51, which includes Richfield, Eastern Bloomington, and Minneapolis: parts of Nokomis neighborhood. Senator Wiklund is Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee and serves on the Commerce and Consumer Protection, Finance, and Human Services Committees.

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