Former Gov. Ventura to boycott Minnesota State Fair over cannabis ban

Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura says he’s boycotting the State Fair this year over management’s decision to not allow cannabis, which is now legal in the state, on fairgrounds.

Venture shared his criticism on Monday, noting that it doesn’t make sense that other substances are allowed on fairgrounds but weed is not.

“You can go over there, get smashed on alcohol, go on a ride, and throw up all over everybody because you’ve been drinking. That’s perfectly fine,” Ventura said.

Ventura shared with News Talk 830 WCCO’s Chad Hartman that he is encouraging all cannabis users to boycott the state fair.

“I’m not going to attend out of protest for the cannabis industry,” he said. “I urge all cannabis users to make it known. You’re not going to the state fair either until they treat cannabis the same as they do alcohol.”

He says it doesn’t make sense that people are not only allowed to drink alcohol but also smoke cigarettes on the fairgrounds.

“You can also smoke cigarettes. They have 18 designated smoking places for tobacco, and yet they have banned cannabis,” Venture said.

Ventura is a long-time proponent of legal marijuana and even launched his own cannabis brand earlier this year.

In a statement earlier this month, State Fair officials say they are observing how the cannabis issue is holding up in other parts of Minnesota and other state fairs in the U-S before making a final decision.

They also point out that smoking marijuana in public places is still illegal under the Clean Air Act.