Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz ripped into Republicans on Tuesday for rejecting a bill that would have legalized recreational marijuana, saying in an interview that the Senate hearing they gave the measure was nothing more than political posturing.

The Republican-controlled Senate judiciary committee rejected the bill on a party-line vote on Monday. The DFL-controlled House has not given a recreational marijuana bill a hearing.

“What we got is a kind of Kabuki dance yesterday with a couple cherry-picked witnesses and a declaration today that the cannabis issue is dead,” Walz told the Pioneer Press. “A few dozen senators who weren’t up for re-election last year determined that we aren’t going to talk about it anymore. We kind of have to push back a little bit on that.”

He continued.

“They kind of promised that we would explore this, we would have a statewide conversation, we would see the best way to go. They failed on that,” Walz said. “They chose and already knew the outcome.”

Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-Nisswa, responded with a statement Tuesday afternoon.

“The Governor has a right to his opinion to legalize marijuana, but it is not a priority of the Minnesota Senate. Our priorities are lowering healthcare costs, fixing our roads and bridges, and balancing the budget without raising taxes.”

Opponents of the bill told lawmakers Monday that legalizing recreational marijuana could lead to higher use among teens and an increase in the number of impaired motorists.

Senate Republicans also rejected a motion during the hearing to establish a task force to study and make recommendations on the issue. Related Articles To mask or not to mask at MN polling places. Judge hears arguments.

Minnesota Department of Revenue commissioner to step down

Minnesota leaders reflect on the life and legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Minnesota fire crews head to Oregon to help battle wildfires

Gov. Walz, Minnesota’s pointman on COVID-19, looks back with some regret

Walz said he has not ruled out convening a governor’s task force to explore legalization. If he created a task force, he said he would also want it to look at the state’s medical marijuana program, which is “very cumbersome (and) doesn’t work.”

“This might be an opportunity now … because the Senate’s chose to shut everything down, that maybe we use that to reignite this conversation,” Walz said. “We haven’t left this. We kind of feel like there’s a whole bunch of folks out there who think this would make sense.”