While Minnesota does not currently have a medical marijuana law in place, nor does it appear that the state is looking to decriminalize it any time soon, people’s attitudes about the substance are constantly changing. With more and more states passing medical marijuana laws, it is only a matter of time before Minnesota will start making marijuana available to the chronically ill. Until that time comes, however, possession of any marijuana will result in a drug charge.
When Minnesota does pass a medical marijuana law, the language of the law will be very important. Legislators must be precise with what they will allow and what will remain criminal, and one aspect where that will be esential is in regard to hashish and hash oil. A lot of states across the country are realizing now that unclear legislation has raised considerable questions about hash and hash oil’s status.
Hash and hash oil are incredibly potent extracts of marijuana, and some oils can be more than 90 percent THC. THC, the chemical compound that creates the high, is more prevelant in these substances and, thus, consumers need to use far less to get the same high that they would from traditional marijuana. In fact, many medical marijuana users will use only as much hash oil as the size of a grain of rice to feel the same effects as someone smoking.
Because hash and hash oil are so much more potent, it is crucial that legislators address these marijuana derrivatives, otherwise many individuals using hash or hash oil may inadvertantly find themselves facing drug charges.
Source: Minnesota Public Radio, “Legal pot prompts a question: What about hash?” Gene Johnson, Associated Press, July 14, 2013
