MN cannabis office to begin accepting business license applications

ST. PAUL — The state Office of Cannabis Management announced Tuesday, Feb. 4, it will accept applications for business licenses Feb. 18 to March 14.

Applications will be accepted for both verified social equity applicants and general licensing for retail, production, testing and transportation. Event organizer licenses will be accepted later this summer, and lower-potency hemp licenses will be accepted this fall.

“Prospective business owners are eager to get started, and applying for a license sets them on a path to launching their business,” said Eric Taubel, OCM interim director, in a news release. “Getting licenses out the door and into the hands of qualified applicants is our priority as we approach the launch of Minnesota’s adult-use cannabis industry.”

The announcement comes after a planned lottery for social equity applicants was nixed late last year after several court challenges. The rollout of cannabis sales and production in the state is happening slower than expected since legalization in 2023.

The office said half of the cultivator, microbusiness, manufacturer and retailer licenses — the four types capped by state statute — will be reserved for social equity applicants. Lotteries for these licenses will have two parts: one for social equity applicants and the second for all applicants. Social equity applicants not selected in the first part will be entered int the second part.

Statutory caps are in place through July 1, 2026. Then, OCM will adjust the number of capped licenses based on market performance.

Applications for uncapped licenses will be reviewed on a rolling basis.