Proposed cannabis regulations bring Minnesota one step closer to dispensaries: Minnesota’s marijuana market took a small but crucial step toward next year’s launch Wednesday as the state released a first draft of regulations, Brooks Johnson reports. The proposed rules of the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) include potency limits and other technical requirements for growers, retailers and processors the state law didn’t cover. While some social equity applicants are beginning their process and dispensaries have opened on several Native American reservations, rulemaking needs to finish before the full application process can kick off, which should happen early next year. The public can comment on the proposed regulations through Aug. 30. A final draft of the rules should come by the end of the year, which will create another opportunity for comments. Read more.
Smoking, vaping weed now banned in multifamily housing in Minnesota — with one big exception: “Minnesota has some of the nation’s most permissive rules for smoking and vaping cannabis, being one of just a handful of states that allows public consumption. Aside from some local ordinances that are more restrictive, those 21 and older generally can smoke and vape wherever tobacco smoking is allowed. But a date change in the state’s recreational marijuana and hemp law passed in May imposed a new restriction on private consumption that started July 1: Owners of multifamily housing must now ban smoking and vaping of cannabis. The restriction was contained in 2023’s House File 100 but it wasn’t to take effect until March 2025. There is a significant exception to that apartment ban, however. Medical cannabis users who are registered with the program and have a medical card must be allowed to use smokable and vapable cannabis, even in multifamily housing,” Peter Callaghan reports for MinnPost. Read more.
St. Louis County Board votes in favor of five-month moratorium for new cannabis businesses: The St. Louis County Board last week voted in favor of a five-month moratorium on new cannabis businesses to register or operate within the county — a move to allow local government more time to figure out how to regulate the industry, according to a news release. County Board Chair Keith Nelson said there are a lot of details to sort through and it needs to be done properly, Christa Lawler reports. Read more.
OCM continues to staff up: In the latest edition of the OCM’s monthly newsletter, the agency announced a slew of new hires, including licensing director Jamie Dressler and medical cannabis director Ilizah Zuelsdorff. You can read more about the OCM’s new employees here.
Cannabis regulators ready for the next phase of legalization: “A year after it became legal for adults 21 and up to use, possess and grow their own cannabis in Minnesota, state regulators are busy preparing for the full build-out of the marijuana marketplace. The Office of Cannabis Management opened the application process last week for social equity applicants to receive state licenses to grow, manufacture and sell cannabis commercially. As part of the state’s phased roll out, applicants from communities disproportionately impacted by the policing of prior marijuana regulations will get the first shot at entering the legal industry. Wide-scale sales won’t be permitted until early next year. But behind the scenes, the agency is getting ready for a lot more supply to hit store shelves and the inspection role it’ll play,” Dana Ferguson reports for Minnesota Public Radio. Read more.
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