Watch: Minnesota Republican fears cannabis legalization would put 'drug dogs' out of work

16 February 2023

Minnesota State Senator John Jasinski (R-24th District) put forth a novel opposition to recreational cannabis during a hearing on the matter, arguing that decriminalization of the medicinal plant would cause canine unemployment to skyrocket.

Lawmakers in the Minnesota House and Senate approved two bills earlier this week that would end prohibition in the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes, and Governor Tim Walz (D) has made legalization of his top priorities.

If the measures become law, Minnesota "adults 21 and older could purchase up to two ounces of cannabis and cultivate up to eight plants, four of which could be mature," Marijuana Moment explained. "They could possess up to two ounces in a public place and up to five pounds in a private dwelling," the site noted, adding that "prior marijuana records would also be automatically expunged. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension would be responsible for identifying people who are eligible for relief and process the expungements."

None of that is vibing with Jasinski.

"You know, the police dog discussion of all that and retrain what's gonna cost our local law enforcement agencies who've done these dogs, who've, who've spent thousands and thousands of dollars on these dogs to get these dogs drug trained and now they're gonna have to be retired. Uh, that's a big issue," Jasinski said.

"I was the mayor of Faribault and actually did a fundraising campaign to raise money to get a police dog, to have a drug dog," he continued. "And now that money is gonna go away because these dogs can't be used anymore given that, um, so there's a huge cost there."

Watch below or at this link.

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