Would you like to open one of the first adult-use cannabis businesses in Minnesota’s billion-dollar market? The state’s cannabis industry is evolving rapidly, and recent updates from the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) have reshaped the licensing process. Our updated Minnesota Cannabis License Application Guide provides everything you need to know to enter this exciting and competitive market.
Minnesota Cannabis License Application Guide
Regulatory Agency for Minnesota’s Cannabis Industry
To start, familiarize yourself with the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). This newly created agency regulates Minnesota’s cannabis industry, ensuring compliance, issuing licenses, and developing the rules for the state’s adult-use cannabis businesses. Staying informed through OCM’s website and announcements is crucial for applicants.
Laws and Regulations
Understanding the legal framework is vital for anyone looking to enter the cannabis market in the state.
Thus, it’s essential to thoroughly read Minnesota Statutes Chapter 342, which outlines Minnesota’s cannabis laws. This chapter will provide you with the necessary legal knowledge to ensure your business operates within the bounds of state law.
The OCM has begun drafting rules (aka regulations) to complete the regulatory framework for Minnesota’s new cannabis industry. To stay up-to-date on rule making, subscribe to our newsletter and we will send you an email when the rules are published.
Next, our Minnesota marijuana business license application guide discusses the timeline of the adult-use program.
Timeline (Updated in 2025)
Minnesota has transitioned to a standard licensing cycle, allowing both social equity and general applicants to apply. Below are the key dates for 2025:
This updated timeline ensures a fair and transparent process while preserving opportunities for social equity applicants.
Types of Marijuana Business Licenses Available in 2025
The OCM will offer nine types of Minnesota cannabis business licenses:
- Microbusiness
- Mezzobusiness
- Cultivator
- Manufacturer
- Retailer
- Wholesaler
- Transporter
- Testing Facility
- Delivery Service
Each license type has unique requirements and opportunities, and applicants should select the one that aligns with their business goals.
Next, let’s take a look at the license application requirements and process.
Application Requirements & Process Summary
Minnesota’s cannabis licensing process prioritizes social equity applicants, ensuring an inclusive industry.
However, applicants who do not qualify under social equity provisions can apply for general licenses during the same application window. These applicants must meet the same rigorous requirements and will participate in a separate lottery if applicable, as described below.
Here’s how the process works:
Step 1. Social Equity Verification
- Opens: January 15, 2025
- Closes: January 30, 2025
Applicants must demonstrate eligibility, such as being impacted by cannabis-related offenses or residing in areas with high poverty rates.
For detailed information on the verification process and eligibility, refer to our Minnesota Social Equity Verification Guide.
Step 2: License Application Submission
Once verified, social equity applicants can apply for license preapproval. General applicants will also be able to apply for a license during:
- Opens: February 18, 2025
- Closes: March 14, 2025
This process involves submitting detailed documentation, including:
- Attachment A: Disclosure of Ownership and Control (PDF)
- Attachment B: Capitalization Table (Excel)
- Attachment D: Security Plan (PDF)
- Attachment F: Business Plan (PDF)
- Attachment G: Labor Peace Agreement Attestation Pre-Condition Form (PDF)
- Attachment I: Description of Training and Education for Employees (PDF)
- Attachment J: Standard Operating Procedure Quality Assurance (PDF) (Updated 7/12/2024)
- Attachment K: Standard Operating Procedure Inventory Control, Storage, and Diversion Prevention (PDF)
- Attachment L: Standard Operating Procedure Accounting and Tax Compliance (PDF)
- Operation Plans (by license type)
- Attachment Ma: Microbusiness or Mezzobusiness Operation Plan (PDF)
- Attachment Mb: Manufacturer Operation Plan (PDF)
- Attachment Mc: Retail Operation Plan (PDF)
- Attachment Md: Wholesale Operation Plan (PDF)
- Attachment Me: Testing Operation Plan (PDF)
- Attachment Mf: Transporter Operation Plan (PDF)
- Attachment Mg: Delivery Operation Plan (PDF)
- Attachment Mh: Cultivation Operation Plan (PDF)
- Attachment N: Cultivation Plan (PDF) (mandatory for cultivator license types or micro/mezzo licenses seeking a cultivation endorsement)
Step 3: Lottery for Capped Licenses
Qualified applications for licenses with statutory caps will be entered into a lottery. The lottery is tentatively scheduled for May-June 2025.
Unsuccessful applicants will have opportunities in subsequent licensing rounds.
Fees Related to Minnesota Cannabis License Applications
The office will charge a nonrefundable application fee to cover the administrative costs of reviewing and processing applications. Licenses must be renewed annually. In addition, licenses may not be transferred.
Next, let’s look at the subject of local control.
Local Control in Minnesota
Municipalities in Minnesota cannot opt out of allowing cannabis businesses within their jurisdictions. However, they retain the authority to enforce compliance and set operational limits, such as hours of operation.
Conclusions on our Minnesota Cannabis License Application Guide
In conclusion, our Minnesota cannabis business consultants are highly experienced at winning cannabis licenses in extremely competitive markets, such as Minnesota’s adult-use license market.
We have a track record to prove it, as shown in this video. Save yourself some time and money and engage our services. Reach out to the cannabis consultants at Quantum 9 for a free consultation.
I’m interested in opening a retailer business.
Me and three others are looking to open retail in central Minnesota Crow Wing county and surrounding areas, 4 members are myself and my significant other and all four owners are family two of whom actually registered nurses for the state of Minnesota . So it would be me why partner wife and her two sisters and my wife and her other sister are both registered nurses in the state. This is a lifelong passion and dedication and something we’ve been waiting on for a really long time we have a our own huge plan idea in depth were lacking off consulting lawyers elderly to apply for licensing advisement on property location establishment retail wondering if multiple retail throughout the state from the get-go would it be better to do that and get the overwhelmingness over and done with or would it be better to set up the first retail manage and operate it yourself or get enough revenue to have it independently managed and you just own and collect the revenue from the company what is the best aspect of the industry you’re definitely looking to provide a logistics delivery along with our retail establishments.? James Pokrivnak owner and CEO of Best Budds LLC EIN 92-3283868
We had a previously thought that we perhaps wanted to go into micro business cultivation but we don’t have any previously much experience growing and not on large level like that so to speak but we all have management and retail sales and ownership of businesses experience people management business management planning regulating and implementing all aspects of retail establishments sales customers relations service location etc so we definitely want to start retail branded dispensary perhaps even franchise into a multi-state operators that would like to come in and help us establish and supply the retail establishments that we open from day one open to all ideas options partnerships and available industry regulations with complete compliance from building location code products sales record keeping and reporting integrating digital services like dutchie for a online mobile sale application for quicker easier customer sales service and as much technology that we can implement in to the retail establishment itself fully integrating everything even the delivery service.