Purpose

• To improve public safety by clarifying how a certain quantity of drugs is classified under Minnesota law.

Main Provisions

• Adds a new subdivision, Subd. 18a, to Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 152.01.
• Defines “Residual amount” as an amount of a controlled substance that is not usable, regardless of whether the amount could produce a pharmacological or physiological effect.
• This is a definitional addition to existing law, intended to specify what counts as a residual amount for enforcement and legal purposes.

Significance and How It Changes Existing Law

• Creates a formal definition for residual amounts of controlled substances, which did not exist before in this section.
• By labeling certain quantities as “residual amount” based on usability rather than potential effects, the bill aims to reduce ambiguity in how small or unusable quantities are treated under the law.

Practical Implications

• Law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts gain a clear standard for identifying and handling residual amounts of controlled substances.
• The definition focuses on usability rather than pharmacological potential, which could affect interpretations of possession, handling, or penalties in cases involving tiny or unusable quantities.

Terminology Inclusion

• Key terms from the bill: residual amount, controlled substance, Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 152.01, Subd. 18a, definition, usable vs. not usable.

Relevant Terms - residual amount - controlled substances - public safety - Minnesota Statutes 2024 - section 152.01 - Subd. 18a - definition - usable - not usable