Canna Advisors Publish Quick Guide On New MN Licensing Process

Minnesota’s Cannabis Licensing Application Process Starts January

The Original Pre-approval Lottery Is Paused

Minnesota’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) announced a seismic shift in the cannabis licensing process following a judge’s decision to pause the license pre-approval lottery.

A New Standard Application Cycle Is Here

To prevent further delays, the Minnesota OCM is ending its original pre-approval process (exclusively for social equity applicants) and will instead open a standard licensing cycle for both social equity and general cannabis business applicants in early 2025. The lotteries for the next round are expected in May and June 2025—around the same time the pre-approval lottery could have been held due to litigation delays.

Minnesota’s New Cannabis Licensing Timeline

Here’s the timeline released by the OCM:

• January 10, 2025: Deadline to request a refund of the cannabis license pre-approval application fee.
• January 15, 2025: Social equity applicant verification window opens.
• January 30, 2025: Social equity applicant verification window closes.
• February 18, 2025: Cannabis license application window opens (for social equity and all applicants).
• March 14, 2025: Cannabis liicense application window closes.
• May–June 2025 (TBA): Tentative date for the cannabis license lottery.

The OCM says this move ensures the timely launch of Minnesota’s cannabis market while maintaining opportunities for social equity applicants, though those previously qualified applicants are understandably disappointed.

 

Photo Source: Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management

Licensing Requirements for Minnesota Pre-approval Applicants

Minnesota cannabis license applicants who qualified in the pre-approval round will automatically transition to the new process (no additional application fee and will not be required to resubmit an application), and denied applicants will have options to reapply or request a refund from the state.

During the press conference, OCM Executive Director, Charlene Briner said,

“For those applicants who applied for a license type that will not be capped in statute during the standard licensing round, including microbusinesses that allow for cultivation, they will continue their next steps in securing a license.”

Those previously qualified applicants seeking a capped license (cultivator, manufacturer, retailer, and mezzobusiness) will be automatically entered into the Social Equity Lottery, and if not selected, they will automatically be moved to the general lottery, where they will have another opportunity for selection.

Licensing Requirements for New Cannabis Business Applicants

For new cannabis business applicants (social equity and standard), we surmise that some license application requirements in the standard round will be similar to those in the pre-approval round based on statutory requirements. However, the OCM website does state that the application materials won’t be available until February, which hints at some changes coming down the pipe, possibly to the portal structure, template format, character counts, or ownership information. The OCM might even slip in a floor plan requirement like they did at the outset of the pre-approval process but reversed.

Breaking: Minnesota Has A New Cannabis Licensing Process