Minnesota Laws and Penalties
Possession for Personal Use:
In Minnesota, marijuana is classified as a Schedule 1 controlled substance.
Possession of 2 ounces or less in public or 2 pounds or less in private is legal.
Possession limits and penalties are as follows:
2 ounces or less in public or 2 pounds or less in private is legal.
More than 2 ounces but not more than 4 ounces of cannabis concentrate is a petty misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $300.
More than 4 ounces but not more than 1 pound of cannabis concentrate is punishable by up to 90 days imprisonment and/or a $1,000 fine.
More than 1 pound but not more than 2 pounds of cannabis concentrate is punishable by up to 1 year imprisonment and/or a $3,000 fine.
More than 2 pounds but not more than 10 kilograms of cannabis concentrate is punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment and/or a $10,000 fine.
More than 10 kilograms but less than 25 kilograms of cannabis flower is a controlled substance crime in the third degree.
More than 25 kilograms but less than 50 kilograms of cannabis flower is a controlled substance crime in the second degree.
Possession of 50 kilograms or more of cannabis flower is a controlled substance crime in the first degree.
First-time offenders may be eligible for conditional discharge, and there may be a requirement for a drug education course.
Sale:
Free distribution by a person over the age of 21 to another person over the age of 21 is not unlawful.
It is lawful to give up to 2 ounces of cannabis flower, 8 grams of cannabis concentrate, or edible products infused with up to 800 milligrams of cannabis for no remuneration.
Sale limits and penalties are as follows:
Sale of up to 2 ounces of cannabis flower is a petty misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $300.
Sale of over 2 ounces of cannabis flower is a third-degree offense, punishable by up to 90 days imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $1,000.
Civil penalties may also be imposed based on the quantity of cannabis involved.
Sale to a minor is a felony with a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.
Distribution within a school zone or specified areas is a felony with varying maximum sentences and fines, depending on the quantity distributed.
Subsequent convictions may lead to more severe penalties.
Cultivation:
It is lawful to grow up to 8 cannabis plants, with a maximum of 4 being mature, at the primary residence of an adult 21 years or older.
All plants must be grown in an enclosed, locked space not accessible by the public.
A civil penalty of up to $500 per plant may be assessed for exceeding the plant limit without a license.
Cultivation limits and penalties are as follows:
Growing more than 16 but not more than 23 plants is a second-degree offense, punishable by up to 1 year imprisonment and/or a $3,000 fine.
Growing more than 23 cannabis plants is a first-degree offense, punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment and/or a $10,000 fine.
Hash & Concentrates:
Marijuana and Tetrahydrocannabinol are classified as Schedule 1 controlled substances.
Possession limits and penalties for concentrates are similar to those for marijuana, with varying degrees of offense based on the quantity possessed.
Notably, possession and distribution without remuneration of a small amount of plant-form marijuana have reduced penalties, but this provision does not apply to Tetrahydrocannabinols.
Paraphernalia:
Possession of paraphernalia is lawful.
Miscellaneous:
Convictions for possession or sale of marijuana may result in a driver’s license revocation if the controlled substance was unlawfully sold or possessed while driving a motor vehicle. The revocation period is typically 30 days.