WINONA, Minn. – State Representative Gene Pelowski, D-Winona, is noncommittal on Democrat-backed legislation that would open up marijuana to recreational use. “I’m going to hold back on saying what I’m going to do until I see the final bill,” Pelowski said in a radio interview on KWNO. Pelowski did not say whether House leader Ryan Winkler had sought his support in. building a 34-Democtat House coalition behind relaxing marijuana restrictions. Nor did Pelowski say whether advance drafts of the bill had been shared with him – even despite his 33 years of his seniority in the House. Pelowski said his reservations stem partly from police opposition, which accepts a premise that marijuana is a gateway drug. Pelowski said he wants to work with law enforcement on the issue. “There have been very strong concerns raised by law enforcement in the past, and I would hope we can address those before we get a final bill to vote on.”
