Earlier in 2023, Minnesota became the 23rd state to legalize adult-use cannabis. The expansive bill, HF100, established the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), which has since been crafting the regulatory framework to begin licensing. Originally scheduled to begin in 2025, Minnesota lawmakers have successfully modified the state’s adult-use cannabis bill to allow the OCM to start issuing license pre-approvals this summer for some licenses. This newly proposed bill, S.F. 4782, will expedite that process by granting cannabis cultivators the ability to begin growing commercial crops later this year, while also accelerating the process for getting cannabis dispensaries lined up for pre-approval. This will allow them to obtain funding, find property, and pursue other necessary measures to establish their operations.

The cannabis industry in Minnesota is unlike any other. Although it has legalized medical marijuana, that industry is considered by many to be one of the most conservative in the country.