What Is a Controlled Substance in Minnesota?

Minnesota is no different from every other state in the U.S. in that it has laws surrounding the possession, manufacture, and sale of controlled substances. The laws in Minnesota break these substances up into different schedules. They base penalties on those different drug schedules.

The sentencing guidelines in the state vary by degree as well, with a first-degree offense as the most serious—and a fifth-degree offense as the least. But be aware that even small amounts of drugs can sometimes set a person up for some harsh sentencing.

The drug laws in Minnesota can be complex. Here’s what you need to know about what Minnesota considers controlled substances and the penalties that can be faced for violating the laws surrounding [...]

Minnesota Senate Still Stands Against Recreational Weed Reform

It seems as if states all around Minnesota are making recreational marijuana legal. However, Minnesota doesn’t seem quite ready to make the leap – though some lawmakers are trying.

Last year, Democratic leaders in the legislature introduced a bill that would legalize marijuana in the state comprehensively. The coronavirus held up that legislation, but Republican lawmakers did not seem eager to embrace the bill and the changes it would bring to the state.

There are many reasons that legalization would help Minnesota, from jobs to tax revenue, but it remains illegal. In fact, if you are caught with marijuana in the state, there are some serious legal consequences you could face.

Here’s what anyone who partakes in this state should [...]

MN Legislators Still Side with Feds on Recreational Marijuana

Even though many Minnesota voters want to see the blanket legalization of marijuana in the state, the recreational use of marijuana is still illegal. Minnesota statutes still very much align with federal laws on marijuana being used recreationally.

That doesn’t seem to stop folks from doing it anyway. In October, a traffic stop in Nobles County, for instance, led to the discovery of 70 pounds of marijuana.

The stop resulted in charges of second-degree drug possession and first-degree drug sale for the driver, both serious crimes that can potentially lead to up to 30 years in jail and fines in the millions.

Legislators Working to Legalize, but for Now, Recreational Use is Illegal

Contrary to the serious consequences the accused [...]

MN Courts Want to Help Parents Battling Opioid Addiction

While opioid addiction continues to ravage families across the United States, Minnesota is working hard to help keep drug offenders from prison.

They do so by helping them into treatment programs through specialized Drug Courts. They’ve even created a sub-court system, Drug Courts for Families, which caters to those families battling addiction in order to help them stay together.

Here’s what you need to know about addiction and the court system in Minnesota and how family-based treatments are working to keep families together instead of being torn apart.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, deaths due to prescription opioids are on the rise. In 2010, a little over 21,000 people died from [...]