What Is the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management?
February 27, 2024Minnesota’s cannabis regulatory agency, the Office of Cannabis Management (also referred to in the law as the “Office”) will be in charge of drafting and issuing rules and regulations related to the industry. It is tasked with a variety of obligations, including:
- To develop, maintain, and enforce an organized system of regulation for the cannabis industry and hemp consumer industry
- To prevent unauthorized access to cannabis flower, cannabis products, lower-potency hemp edibles, and hemp-derived consumer products by individuals under 21 years of age
- To establish and regularly update standards for product manufacturing, testing, packaging, and labeling, including requirements for an expiration, sell-by, or best-used-by date
- To promote economic growth with an emphasis on growth in areas that experienced a disproportionate, negative impact from cannabis prohibition
This is just a small list of what the Office is tasked with.
The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management’s Timeline
To enforce Minnesota’s new marijuana laws, the proposed timeline, from 2023 forward, is the following:
- Fall 2023: Rulemaking begins for adult-use cannabis and lower-potency hemp products
- 2024: Rulemaking continues; hiring continues; testing and final preparation for licensing system launch; education and outreach for prospective business applicants
- Early 2025: Applications for cannabis business licenses anticipated
- First Quarter, 2025: First retail dispensary sales anticipated (outside of tribal nations)
- March 1, 2025: MDH Office of Medical Cannabis (and Minnesota’s Medical Cannabis Program) moves to Office of Cannabis Management
We are hopeful that the Office will be able to meet its proposed timeline, and the rulemaking process is going to be important for everyone in the industry to pay attention to. While the law is obviously important, the rules and regulations that the Office drafts will flesh out the law so that it works in practice.
Set Your Cannabis Business Up for Legal Success
The attorneys from Minnesota-based Garner, Ginsburg & Johnsen, P.A. know what it’s like working with upstart businesses in developing industries. For over 30 years, our team has worked with a range of small businesses. If you need legal expertise, contact our experienced attorneys to set up a consultation.
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