Minnesota’s Cannabis Industry Takes a Major Step Forward
The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management has announced the winners of a lottery for cannabis business licenses, a significant milestone in the state’s journey towards legalizing recreational marijuana. The lottery, held on Thursday, selected 249 applicants from a pool of over 700 eligible businesses, including retailers and cultivators.
The winners will still need to complete several additional steps before receiving their licenses, including passing criminal background checks, negotiating with local governments, and clearing inspections. However, this development marks a major step forward for the industry, which has been legal for home use and growth since 2023.
Eric Taubel, interim director of the OCM, emphasized that the industry’s focus on smaller, craft businesses will take time to mature. Supply will initially be limited, and it may take several months for growers and manufacturers to scale up production. This means that the market will not reach full maturity immediately.
Despite the challenges, many business owners are excited about the prospect of opening their doors. Nick Rahn, owner of the Warrior’s Garden, a hemp-derived edibles store in St. Paul, was overjoyed when his number was called during the lottery. He plans to renovate his existing store to comply with regulations and hopes to reopen as an adult-use cannabis dispensary by August 1.
However, Rahn and others in the industry are also aware of the supply chain challenges they will face. “We’re all kind of wondering the same thing: where are we going to get our product?” he said.
The OCM has promised to provide additional information to the selected applicants next week, outlining their next steps and what they need to do to achieve licensure. As the industry continues to develop, Minnesotans can expect to see new stores, cultivators, and manufacturers emerge in the coming weeks and months.
