A newly formed coalition hopes their efforts derail hopes to legalize recreational marijuana in Minnesota.
Minnesotans Against Marijuana Legalization held a press conference Monday morning detailing their concerns about the bill passed in May 2021 to legalize marijuana.
"The trucking industry strongly opposes the legalization of recreational marijuana," said John Hausladen, President & CEO, Minnesota Trucking Association.
Hausladen, who cited data from a January 2020 AAA study finding the THC-levels of drivers in fatal crashes had double compared to before the state legalized marijuana, said legalizing the drug would have similar consequences in Minnesota.
"It will make Minnesota roadways less safe," Hausladen said. "It will also worsen the state's already severe workforce shortage."
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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires employers to subject individuals with a commercial driver’s license to be subject to alcohol and drug testing.
"We believe expanding marijuana use will reduce the pool of those able to pass a drug test. All of this at a time when the supply chain is severely strained and in-need of more drivers, not less."
The Minnesota Safety Council says it also opposes legalizing recreational marijuana.
Minnesota Safety Council president, Paul Aasen, said Monday employers would face more challenges in trying to keep workers safe.
"Employers do no have an effective way to detect, judge, or manage marijuana impairment," Aasen said. "There is no simple blood-alcohol test like we're used to for beer, whiskey, and wine."
In addition to safety concerns, the group raised concerns about the inability to address racial inequities.
"When I talk to marijuana advocates and elected officials who support legalizing marijuana, it's because they want to reverse social injustices," said Ryan Hamilton, Government Relations Associate, Minnesota Catholic Conference.
Hamilton says he believes there's a better way towards justice than normalizing and commercializing marijuana.
"We owe it to communities of color to ensure equitable enforcement of our laws," he said. "But Minnesotans of color also driver cars, they also have jobs, and they also love their children. We also owe it to Minnesotans of colors to provide safe roadways, safe workplaces, and healthy internal and external environments to raise children."
A report published by the ACLU in 2020 found that despite marijuana reforms, racial disparities still still existed for arrests related to marijuana possession.
According to the ACLU, Black people were more than 3.5 time more likely to get arrested for marijuana possession than white people.
"We have to get away from the false dichotomy that the only way we can achieve justice is to legalize a drug and an industry," Howard said. "It can be done if it's a targeted bipartisan solution towards the issue at hand, which is justice."