Environment

Sen. Foung Hawj Says Bill to Legalize Adult-use Cannabis Passes His Environment, Climate and Legacy Committee

Former Governor Jesse Ventura Testifies “Cannabis Saved My Life” After it Helped Stop His Wife’s Chronic Seizures Years Ago

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Senator Foung Hawj (DFL-St. Paul), Chair of the Environment, Climate, and Legacy Committee, said his panel has passed legislation to legalize and regulate adult-use Cannabis (SF-73) on Thursday, with former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura testifying in favor of the bill because “cannabis saved my life.”

Senator Simonson Supports Omnibus Environment and Natural Resources Bill

The Minnesota Senate passed the Omnibus Environment and Natural Resources Bill (SF 4499) Saturday, which included projects that would receive funding from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. This included $500,000 for Minnesota Point Pine Forest Scientific and Natural Area and Sky Harbor to protect old growth forest and the harbor.

Assistant DFL Leaders Senator Jeff Hayden, Representative Hodan Hassan Introduce Legislation to Ensure Environmental Justice

Today, Senator Jeff Hayden introduced legislation that would ensure environmental justice. For years, the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute (EPNI) worked on an Indoor Urban Farm project to be built at the Roof Depot in Minneapolis. The project would promote environmental justice and undo years’ worth of pollution in one of the city’s most racially diverse neighborhoods.

Minnesota becomes first state to ban Trichloroethylene

Legislation was passed Thursday banning the use of trichloroethylene (TCE) in Minnesota, beginning June 1, 2022. The push for a ban of TCE comes in response to the discovery in 2019 that the Water Gremlin company had failed to report accurate emissions standards for more than 15 years.