The new Office of Cannabis Management will release applications, issue licenses and develop regulations outlining how and when businesses can participate in the new adult-use industry in Minnesota. Over the coming months, the new state agency will develop the regulatory framework for legal adult cannabis, and establish processes and timelines to apply for licenses.
NOTE: Lower-potency hemp businesses currently in operation will need to register with the Minnesota Department of Health by Oct. 1, 2023, and eventually get licensed under the Office of Cannabis Management. Check back for more details about the registration process.
Licenses
The legislation establishes the following types of licenses:
- Cannabis microbusiness (application fee $500; no initial license fee; renewal license fee $2,000)
- Cannabis mezzobusiness (application fee $5,000; initial license fee $5,000; renewal license fee $10,000)
- Cannabis cultivator (application fee $10,000; initial license fee $20,000; renewal license fee $30,000)
- Cannabis manufacturer (application fee $10,000; initial license fee $10,000; renewal license fee $20,000)
- Cannabis retailer (application fee $2,500; initial license fee $2,500; renewal license fee $5,000)
- Cannabis wholesaler (application fee $5,000; initial license fee $5,000; renewal license fee $10,000)
- Cannabis transporter (application fee $250; initial license fee $500; renewal license fee $1,000)
- Cannabis testing facility (application fee $10,000; initial license fee $10,000; renewal license fee $20,000)
- Cannabis event organizer (application fee $750; initial license fee $750)
- Cannabis delivery service (application fee $250; initial license fee $500; renewal license fee $1,000)
- Lower-potency hemp edible manufacturer (application fee $250; initial license fee $1,000; renewal license fee $1,000)
- Lower-potency hemp edible retailer (application fee $250 per retail location; initial license fee $250 per retail location; renewal license fee $250 per retail location)
- Medical cannabis cultivator (application fee $250; no initial license fee; no renewal license fee)
- Medical cannabis processor (application fee $250; no initial license fee; no renewal license fee)
- Medical cannabis retailer (application fee $250; no initial license fee; no renewal license fee)
- Medical cannabis combination business (application fee $10,000; initial license fee $20,000; renewal license fee $70,000)
Social equity
The legislation prioritizes applications for business licenses from people who live in low-income areas that have experienced a disproportionate impact from cannabis prohibition and for military veterans who lost honorable status due to a cannabis-related offense. Social equity includes people who were convicted of cannabis-related offenses before the effective date of the legislation.