While Minnesota lawmaker worked to pass cannabis law, her partner started a cannabis business: As state Rep. Jessica Hanson, DFL-Burnsville, negotiated a sweeping set of cannabis policy changes during the closing weeks of this year’s legislative session, her partner registered a new cannabis business called Weed Girl. State business records show Joseph Nickleson, whom the two-term lawmaker described as her “life partner,” registered Weed Girl LLC on May 3, while the legislative session was still underway. That same month, Hanson played a key role in pushing a cannabis omnibus bill across the finish line. She was one of two House sponsors of the bill and served on the conference committee that fine-tuned the legislation before the final version passed, with Hanson voting in favor. Hanson said she was not employed by Weed Girl during the session, she was working in her corporate healthcare job at the time. Still, a government ethics expert called her ties to Weed Girl “a conflict of interest.” Here’s my story.
A deeper dive into Minnesota’s early social equity license application data: We took a quick first pass on applicant data released by the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) in last week’s Nuggets, noting that a majority of the applicants seeking preapproval for a limited number of Minnesota social equity cannabis licenses in a lottery this fall listed out-of-state addresses on their applications. Brooks Johnson has a fuller story, complete with maps and charts breaking down the applications from Minnesotans and those in other states. Read more. (No paywall!)
Deadline to comment on OCM's draft rules is next week: If you want to make your voice heard about anything in the OCM’s 111 pages of proposed regulations to govern Minnesota’s upcoming adult-use cannabis market, you have until Friday, Aug. 30, to submit your comments.
Office of Cannabis Management webinar for local governments posted online: For anyone interested in how the state’s new cannabis laws affect local governments, the OCM has posted video of its Aug. 9 webinar for government officials to its YouTube channel. Watch it here.
Albert Lea Planning Commission approves pot ordinance: “After a long process, the planning commission was able to come to a unanimous decision on where exactly cannabis and sexually oriented businesses can open in Albert Lea. … [The] plan would prohibit adult focused businesses in residential areas. That also includes interstates and areas near downtown,” Jordan Sansom reports for KAAL-TV. Read more.
Carver County OKs moratorium on cannabis businesses: “Like many other cities and counties in the state, Carver County will enact a moratorium prohibiting any cannabis business in the county until the end of the year. That decision was made by the county board Aug. 6 following continuation of an earlier public hearing on the matter,” Al Lohman reports for the Sun Patriot. Read more.
Did you miss last week’s Nuggets? Read it here.
