News & Updates : OCM closes first round of social equity verification, license preapproval

The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) has closed the first application round of social equity applicant verification and license preapproval in preparation for the launch of Minnesota’s new cannabis industry. Per Minnesota law, the application period for license preapproval closed on Aug. 12.

The process started with the verification of applicants who met qualifications for social equity applicant status. Of the 3,144 people who sought social equity verification, 2,307 were verified.

Following that, those who received social equity verification could submit an application for license preapproval. OCM received 1,817 applications for license preapproval.

Now, submitted applications will go through a review and vetting process, and if qualified, be entered into a lottery.

OCM will schedule the lottery once all applications have been vetted. Watch the OCM website for updates.

Applicants selected through the lottery and who complete final required steps, including the background check process, will be awarded license preapproval and be able to finalize business operations in anticipation of market launch after the adoption of rules.

There’s still time to provide feedback on first draft of proposed rules

OCM has posted the first draft of proposed rules (PDF) for Minnesota’s cannabis industry.

There’s still time to provide feedback. The feedback window closes on Aug. 30. You can submit feedback by using this form.

This is not the official rules package, but rather a first draft in advance of the public comment period expected later this year. The first draft is based on substantial input OCM has received through surveys, meetings, and conversations that took place since last fall as well as OCM’s review of Minnesota’s cannabis statute and cannabis rules in other states.

Rulemaking Overview

OCM Staff Updates

Welcome to OCM

Welcome to these new OCM employees!

Lucy Angelis, grants manager

Lucy joined OCM from the City of St. Paul, where she was an emergency management coordinator. Among her duties in that role, Lucy managed various grant programs, oversaw budgets, ensured strategic plans and objectives were met, and wrote and submitted grant applications. She also served a one-year term as interim emergency management director for the city.

Monaie Hebert, compliance supervisor

Before being promoted to her new position, Monaie was a hemp-derived products inspector with the Minnesota Department of Health. Prior to that, Monaie worked at the Minnesota Department of Corrections, serving as corrections case manager, senior corrections agent, and senior facilities inspector during her tenure there.

Resources

Sign up to receive OCM grant updates

You can now sign up to receive email updates about CanRenew and CanGrow, OCM’s grant programs. Sign up today!

Legal Cannabis Industry Forum
set for Nov. 8

Minnesota Dual-Training Pipeline supports employers with creating or enhancing a competency based, earn-and-learn dual-training approach to meeting their workforce needs. With Pipeline, workers receive a combination of related instruction paired with on-the-job training.

The next Legal Cannabis Industry Forum, scheduled for 9-10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 8, is a great opportunity to learn about Minnesota Dual-Training Pipeline, share input on key in-demand occupations in the legal cannabis industry, help develop new occupations that will become eligible for Pipeline programming and to network and learn from others. Sign up for the virtual forum at this webpage.