This bill proposes amendments to Minnesota's medical cannabis laws, primarily to recognize and integrate Tribal medical cannabis programs and provide additional patient protections.

Key Provisions:

1. Recognition of Tribal Medical Cannabis Programs:

   • Defines and acknowledges Tribal medical cannabis programs, their regulatory boards, and patients.
     
   • Allows Tribal medical cannabis programs established by federally recognized Tribes within Minnesota to regulate the production, processing, sale, and distribution of medical cannabis.

2. Home Cultivation by Caregivers:

   • Allows registered designated caregivers to cultivate up to eight cannabis plants for a patient household in addition to their own personal adult-use plants (with a total personal maximum of 16 plants, with no more than 8 flowering).
     

3. Medical Cannabis Distribution to Tribal Patients:

   • Authorized cannabis businesses can distribute medical cannabis products to registered Tribal medical cannabis program patients.
     
   • Requires verification of a Tribal-issued registration card and photo identification before distribution.
     
   • Mandates security, labeling, and reporting procedures for such transactions.
     
   • Permits curbside distribution at designated zones under strict security conditions.

4. Expanded Legal Protections for Patients:

   • Establishes legal status for Tribal medical cannabis patients similar to those in the state program.
     
   • Protects patients, caregivers, health professionals, and Tribal regulators from civil or criminal penalties if they comply with applicable laws.
     
   • Prohibits law enforcement from accessing patient data without a valid search warrant.
     

5. Employment, Housing, Education, & Medical Protections:

   • Employers cannot discriminate against employees solely for being medical cannabis patients or failing a drug test for cannabis—unless they were actively impaired at work.
     
   • Schools and landlords cannot refuse to enroll or rent to registered patients solely due to cannabis use unless federal funding is at risk.
     
   • Medical cannabis use cannot be grounds for denying medical care, including organ transplants.
     
   • Protects parental rights, ensuring medical cannabis use does not presume neglect or child endangerment.
     

6. Retaliation & Legal Remedies:

   • Prohibits retaliation by employers, schools, landlords, or healthcare facilities against patients asserting their rights.
     
   • Allows medical cannabis patients to sue for damages (ranging from $100 to $1,000 in civil penalties plus legal fees) if their rights are violated.
     

7. Restrictions on Parole & Supervised Release Penalties:

   • Prohibits the Department of Corrections from revoking parole, supervised release, or conditional release solely for a patient’s cannabis use under a legal program.

Impact:

This bill strengthens legal protections for the medical cannabis community in Minnesota, expands access for Tribal patients, and provides additional rights to caregivers, employees, tenants, and students. It also enhances data privacy and limits law enforcement authority over medical cannabis registries.