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Minnesota task force recommends decriminalization of magic mushrooms

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Minnesota task force recommends decriminalization of magic mushrooms


MINNEAPOLIS — A task force is recommending the decriminalization of magic mushrooms.

A nearly 200-page report from the Minnesota Psychedelic Medicine Task Force said psilocybin mushrooms show evidence they may improve mental health.

Logan Fleischman co-owns Wonderland Mushroom Dispensary in St. Paul, a shop specializing in mushroom-infused gummies and drinks that tout supposed real-life health benefits.

“We’re not saying that this certainly will give you energy or will give you focus, but for some people, it does help,” Fleischman said.

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Fleischman does not sell “magic mushrooms,” also known as psilocybin mushrooms, that cause hallucinations and are still illegal.
However, news of a state task force report that lays out potential health benefits, gives Fleischman hope.

“Really helping combat things like depression, anxiety, PTSD,” Fleischman said.

By a two-thirds supermajority, members of the Psychedelic Medicine Task Force are recommending the Minnesota Legislature create a state-regulated clinical program for the therapeutic administration of psilocybin-containing mushrooms, while removing criminal penalties for their use, and allocating for more funding for research on psychedelics, like psilocybin mushrooms.

The task force also looked at a clinical program for synthetic drugs like MDMA and LSD, but that didn’t garner enough support. There also was not enough support for a recreational market for magic mushrooms.

“The report itself is meant to be a long-term resource for the state,” said Jessica Nielson, chair of the task force. “We do need someone in the legislature to actually introduce the bill and move it through the system.”

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Minnesota Sen. Mark Koran, R-North Branch, a member of the task force, is optimistic.

“If we can get a true environment to have some research done and find an effective way to administer it, and we have the resources to do it here, then I would be all for moving it forward,” Koran said. 

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LIVE UPDATES | ICE in Minnesota: Deadly weekend shooting, protests, and court hearings

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LIVE UPDATES | ICE in Minnesota: Deadly weekend shooting, protests, and court hearings


Immigration operations remain underway following a deadly weekend shooting in Minneapolis, as state and federal officials prepare for court hearings tied to immigration enforcement and evidence preservation on Monday. 

Over the weekend, federal Border Patrol agents fatally shot a Minneapolis man, 37-year-old VA ICU nurse Alex Pretti. This is the third shooting involving federal agents this year, including the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent on Jan. 7. The latest incident comes as thousands of federal agents are in Minneapolis as part of Operation Metro Surge. 

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Meanwhile, multiple federal court hearings are scheduled for Monday as legal battles unfold. A federal judge is slated to hear oral arguments on Minnesota’s lawsuit seeking to stop the surge of federal immigration agents, and another hearing is set on a temporary restraining order that blocks the Trump administration from “destroying or altering evidence” in the Alex Pretti shooting.

Find live updates on this shooting below. Watch FOX 9 live in the player above. Live events and other updates can be viewed below.

7:30 a.m. – Protesters target hotels

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For several weeks, protesters have been targeting hotels where federal agents are believed to be staying. State officials say demonstrators damaged a hotel in Dinkytown on Sunday night, leading to a large response from law enforcement with federal agents using tear gas to disperse the crowd. 

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety released a statement on the incident: 

“The Minnesota State Patrol and DNR were called to assist Minneapolis police with damage to hotel property at Home2 Suites Hotel on University Avenue. While they collaboratively worked to encircle the group for arrests because the demonstration was not peaceful, federal agents arrived without communication and deployed chemical irritants, clearing the group. The State Patrol and DNR are no longer on scene.”

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6:45 a.m. – Federal court hearings Monday

The legal fight over immigration enforcement in Minnesota returns to court Monday.

A federal judge is scheduled to hear oral arguments at 9 a.m. Monday in a lawsuit filed by the State of Minnesota, Minneapolis and St. Paul, which seeks to stop the surge of ICE agents in the state. The lawsuit is calling the ICE operations in Minnesota illegal, while the DOJ has called the lawsuit frivolous. 

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In a separate case, there is a legal battle over evidence in the shooting death of Alex Pretti. A federal judge in Minnesota blocked the Trump administration from “destroying or altering” evidence. 

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says federal officers initially blocked their investigators from the shooting scene. Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a motion Saturday night asking the court for a restraining order to preserve evidence collected by federal officers. 

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The judge swiftly granted the motion and BCA agents were able to access the scene Sunday morning, roughly 24 hours after the shooting. 

A hearing in the case is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Monday. 

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LELS calls for emergency summit on immigration enforcement in Minnesota

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LELS calls for emergency summit on immigration enforcement in Minnesota


BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. (KTTC) – Law Enforcement Labor Services (LELS), which is Minnesota’s largest public safety labor union, is calling on federal, state and local officials to convene an emergency summit, with the hopes of establishing clear policies for immigration enforcement in Minnesota.

The labor union represents many different departments and offices across the state of Minnesota.

LELS says the summit should include leadership from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Minnesota’s Departments of Corrections and Public Safety, the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, the Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association, state and local officials and public safety labor organizations.

“The lack of clarity, cooperation, communication, and coordination between federal, state, and local government is unsustainable,” LELS Executive Director Jim Mortenson said. “Conflicting directives are creating confusion for local law enforcement officers, eroding public trust, and straining public safety. While immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, its impact is felt daily by state and local agencies and the citizens of Minnesota. When leadership fails to align, frontline officers are left to manage the consequences. They deserve clarity, consistency, and leadership.”

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LELS also noted that, prior to recent events, Minnesota’s state and local law enforcement agencies maintained a professional working relationship with ICE and the U.S. Border Patrol. It stressed the importance of restoring a functional relationship that “respects each other’s distinct roles and responsibilities, while promoting cooperation, mutual respect, trust, and effective communication that supports public safety.”

Immediate action is demanded by LELS in order to establish a unified framework that does the following:

  • Clearly defines federal, state, and local public safety roles
  • Provides consistent, lawful guidance to public safety professionals
  • Protects constitutional rights while prioritizing community safety
  • Eliminates confusion that undermines effective policing and public confidence

LELS said it believes a federal-state summit is “long overdue.” It added that Minnesota’s public safety professionals and communities deserve a coordinated approach that will allow everyone to move forward.

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Nebraska’s strong second half leads to 76-57 win over Minnesota

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Nebraska’s strong second half leads to 76-57 win over Minnesota


No. 7 Nebraska (20-0, 9-0) hit the road for a Saturday morning showdown with Minnesota (10-10, 3-6). Despite a rough end to the first half, the Huskers came back strong in the second, taking the 76-57 win to improve to 20-0.

Nebraska trailed 36-30 heading into halftime, slipping up after holding an 18-12 lead. However, the Huskers came back strong in the second, outscoring the Golden Gophers 46-21 to get the win. This included holding Minnesota to 0-of-11 from three-point range in the second half.

Pryce Sandfort commanded the Huskers’ second-half surge, scoring 20 points and finishing the day with 22. He also led Nebraska in rebounds, hauling in 10 to earn a double-double. He finished the day 7-of-14 from the floor, 4-of-10 from three-point range and 4-of-4 from the free throw line.

Nebraska hit 16-of-30 from the floor and 7-of-17 from beyond the arc in the second half, while holding Minnesota to 9-of-24 and 0-of-11 in the same stretch. This negated the Golden Gophers’ strong first half, where they tallied 12-of-29 and 9-of-20. Nebraska finished 29-of-61 from the floor on the day, 9-of-28 from three-point range and a perfect 9-of-9 from the free throw line. Minnesota tallied 21-of-53, 9-of-31 and 6-of-12, respectively.

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Sam Hoiberg led the Huskers in the first half, scoring 14 points, which he ended the game with. He shot 6-of-10 and 2-of-4. He also earned a team-high seven assists. Jamarques Lawrence also scored 14 points in the win, earning 12 in the second half, after shooting 5-of-12 from the floor, 1-of-5 from beyond the arc and 3-of-3 from the free throw line.

Nebraska remains on the road for its next major test of the season, visiting No. 2 Michigan for a Tuesday night top ten matchup. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. on Peacock.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.





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