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CHRONICLING LEGAL CANNABIS IN MINNESOTA

By Matt DeLong

In this week’s Nuggets: THC sales boost city-owned liquor stores across Minnesota; the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) approves nearly 80% of previously deficient social equity applications approved after receiving more information; what you need to know about the Minnesota House’s cannabis omnibus bill; Hennepin County seeks public input on cannabis regulations; and we want to know about your 4/20 celebrations!

THC sales boost city-owned liquor stores across Minnesota: The popularity of THC beverages and gummies is bolstering Minnesota’s municipal liquor stores, with industry experts saying it’s the biggest thing to hit the market since wine coolers. Read more.  

OCM approves nearly 80% of deficient social equity applications after receiving more information: Many social equity applicants who were denied entry into the canceled preapproval lottery last fall were given an opportunity to fix problems with their applications when the OCM began accepting a new round of applications in February. The OCM said 79%, or 450 out of 568, of these applicants are now qualified after providing additional information or otherwise fixing the issues that caused their applications to fail last year. That means that if they are applying for a license type that is limited in number by statute, they will be entered in lotteries expected to be held later this spring. 

Those seeking uncapped license types – such as microbusiness, cannabis wholesaler and delivery service – can proceed with the licensing process once rules are in place, without entering a lottery. There are now 453 qualified social equity microbusiness applicants who could potentially be licensed in coming months, according to the OCM.

What you need to know about the Minnesota House’s cannabis omnibus bill: In the Minnesota House this week, a bill authored by Rep. Zack Stephenson, DFL-Coon Rapids, was amended to fold in a number of other cannabis-related bills. HF 1615 will be the main vehicle for cannabis law changes in the House during the current legislative session. A companion bill in the Senate, SF 2370, sponsored by Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, will serve as an omnibus bill in that chamber. If passed, the two bills will need to have any differences ironed out by a committee that includes members of both chambers.

Here’s a nonexhaustive rundown of what HF 1615 would do if passed in its current form, organized by topic. This list could change as the bill works its way through committees.

Medical cannabis

Lower-potency hemp

Cannabis testing facilities

Social equity

Tribal nations

Hennepin County seeks public input on cannabis regulations: Minnesota's most populous county has released a draft ordinance that would regulate cannabis and hemp businesses in cities and towns that defer oversight to the county (currently that includes Greenwood, Loretto, Medicine Lake, Shorewood and Spring Park). Notably, it would limit the number of retail marijuana licenses to one for every 12,500 residents, the minimum number allowed by state law. You have until Tuesday, April 8, to offer comments on the draft. There will be a public hearing on the draft ordinance at the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis on April 8 at 1:30 p.m. More information on the draft and how to submit comments can be found here.

Planning a 4/20 celebration? Tell us about it. April 20, the unofficial holiday celebrating all things cannabis, is fast approaching. If your business is planning something special to mark the day, or if you know of others who are, we’d love to hear about it. We’ll compile and publish a list of 4/20-related events, specials and discounts later this month. Please send details to nuggets@startribune.com.

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"This is a strain I bred, PBX, a cross between Thug Pug's Peanut Butter Breath and one of my favorite personal strains, which is essentially Platinum Peanut Butter Breath," writes Marin from Owatonna. Thanks for sharing!

Homegrowers, show off your plants! Share your best photo with us by clicking the button below and we'll publish one each week in Nuggets. By submitting a photo, you affirm that you own the rights to it and you are granting permission to the Minnesota Star Tribune to publish it on its platforms.

April 11 (Fri.): 420 Lounge — "Come celebrate 420 early at the Zen Arcade/ Mission Room at The Hook this April! Vibes curated by dj izzie p with Chico Chi, Lailah Reynolds, & more." 8 p.m.-midnight, Hook & Ladder Mission Room, 3010 Minnehaha Av., Minneapolis. Tickets and more info.

April 12 (Sat.): The Dope Show — "A comedy showcase where comedians tell jokes, toke, and then joke some more." 4-5:45 p.m., Roxy's Cabaret, 1333 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis. Tickets and more info.

Got questions about cannabis? 

Send them to us and we'll do our best to answer as many as we can in future newsletters.