Klobuchar, GOP Congress protect THC industry
Thumbs up to Sen. Amy Klobuchar and GOP Senate leadership for working to include provisions to protect Minnesota’s burgeoning THC industry in the continuing budget resolution passed on a bipartisan vote in the U.S. Senate.
Klobuchar’s legislation delayed the prohibition on hemp-based THC products from Nov. 11 to Dec. 11 in a move that was praised by the THC cannabis industry as one that will extend a lifeline. Last year, GOP Sen. Mitch McConnell authored legislation that would outlaw THC and other related products as part of the bill to end the government shutdown last fall. That included gummies, THC drinks and other forms of hemp-based THC that have become extremely popular in Minnesota and other states.
The ban would have also applied to CBD products that can have health benefits.
Klobuchar and Rep. Angie Craig, 2nd District, have authored legislation that would set up a federal regulatory framework.
“The new government funding bill in the Senate includes a key provision based on my bipartisan bill to delay the federal hemp ban … so other states can put more sensible safety rules in place like we have in Minnesota,” Klobuchar said in a report in MinnPost. “This delay was immediately necessary to give Minnesota hemp producers and customers certainty, while giving Congress more time to get to a long-term fix.”
In fact, Minnesota has one of the best regulatory frameworks in the country for THC products that allows for safe use, safe production and distribution. The industry and Minnesota’s congressional delegation had been working to remove the prohibition or provide satisfactory regulatory proposals.
A prohibition on THC drinks and other products would hurt the makers of hemp products, local breweries that are now offering the alternative and farmers.
Klobuchar and others deserve credit for pushing to protect the industry and GOP Senate leadership deserves credit for allowing the provisions in the continuing resolution, giving time for developing federal legislation.
We also give credit to the GOP leadership for including important road funding that goes to every state in the continuing resolution. These already designated funds are simply distributed to states but must get congressional approval.
And finally, the continuing resolution delayed an ill-advised Trump administration rule that would have filtered various grant monies through the Office of Management and Budget where Director Russell Vought would use a political, partisan lens to approve grants.
That would have been politicizing funding that had normally been awarded through competitive, objective grants.
MSU keeps successful coaches
Thumb up to Minnesota State University athletics for resigning a number of successful coaches in the women’s and men’s athletic programs.
Men’s hockey coach Luke Strand, football coach Todd Hoffner, women’s soccer coach Brian Bahl and volleyball coach Corey Phelps had their contracts extended for five years.
All have stellar records in their tenure at MSU. Hoffner has a career 142-37 record, seven division championships and led the team to two national title games.
Strand had his contract extended to the 2032-33 season renewing a contract that would have been up in 2027-28. Strand guided Maverick hockey to back-to-back MacNaughton and Mason cups and appearances in the NCAA tournament. In his three years, Strand has a record of 68-30-14 and was a two-time CCHA Coach of the Year and finalist for national coach of the year.
Bahl just completed MSU soccer’s best season in history with an 18-2-7 record, leading it to the national championship game.
Phelps won 42 games since his arrival, went 18-9 in 2024 and took the Mavericks to the first NSIC tournament since 2018.
Minnesota State must often compete for coaches with schools that have more funding and bigger programs. But MSU coaches seem to find MSU a great place to be a coach and Mankato a great place to live.
MSU staff, athletic boosters and the community deserve credit for offering a place where successful athletics can thrive.