Regulatory Framework
The primary regulatory bodies for cannabis in Minnesota include the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) housed within the Department of Public Safety (DPS) for adult-use cannabis, and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) for medical cannabis. The OCM oversees adult-use cannabis, while the MDH manages the Medical Cannabis Program, ensuring compliance with health regulations and patient safety [1][2][5].
Legal Status
Market | Status | Act/Law | Year |
---|---|---|---|
Adult-Use | Legal | House File 100 [12] | 2023 |
Medical | Legal | Compassionate Care Act [16] | 2014 |
Homegrow | Legal | Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 152 [13] | 2023 |
Track-and-Trace
Both the adult-use and medical cannabis sectors in Minnesota employ the Metrc system as their track-and-trace solution, managed by the OCM and MDH respectively. This system ensures that cannabis products are tracked from seed to sale, enhancing safety and regulatory compliance [3].
Licensing
The OCM makes the following licenses available: [17]
License Type | Description |
---|---|
Microbusiness | grow (5,000 sq ft indoor, one-half acre outdoors), make, sell, and buy cannabis, with on-site consumer lounges |
Mezzobusiness | grow (15,000 sq ft indoor, one acre outdoor), make, sell, and buy cannabis |
Cultivator | grow (30,000 sq ft indoors, two acres outdoors), harvest, package, label, and transport fully grown cannabis plants, and seedlings to manufacturers |
Manufacturer | process raw cannabis plants into intermediate and packaged products, sell to other cannabis businesses |
Retailer | sell packaged cannabis products to the general public and medical patients, up to five retail locations |
Wholesaler | buy and sell cannabis, cannabis products, and lower-potency hemp products to other licensees |
Transporter | licensed contractor to move regulated products between licensed busiensses |
Testing Facility | Licenses for facilities that test cannabis products for safety and potency [17] |
Event Organizer | host events up to 4 days featuring cannabis, and may allow for the sale and use of cannabis, cannabis products, and lower-potency hemp products to consumers at events |
Delivery Service | sell and deliver regulated products directly to consumers |
Lower-Potency Hemp Edible Manufacturer | create, package, and label lower-potency hemp products, sell to cannabis businesses |
Lower-Potency Hemp Edible Retailer | sell packaged lower-potency hemp edibles to consumers |
Medical Cannabis Combination Business | grow (60,000 sq ft medical plant canopy, an additional 30,000 sq ft adult-use plant canopy), manufacture, package, label, and sell cannabis products, plants, and seedlings to both medical patients and adult consumers |
Possession Limits
Item | Possession Limit |
---|---|
Adult-use cannabis (public) | 2 oz or less [13] |
Adult-use cannabis (private) | 2 lbs or less [13] |
Homegrow plants | 4 mature and 4 immature plants per residence, and up to 12 seedlings [13] |
Medical Cannabis
In Minnesota, patients with qualifying conditions such as chronic pain, cancer, and ALS can register for medical cannabis use. Registration requires certification from a licensed Minnesota physician and adherence to the health department's procedures [18]. The program is designed to ensure patient safety and access to tested, regulated medical cannabis products.
Additional Resources
- Wikipedia: Cannabis in Minnesota https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Minnesota
- Minnesota Secretary of State https://www.sos.state.mn.us/
- Minnesota Department of Revenue https://www.revenue.state.mn.us/
- Minnesota Department of Agriculture https://www.mda.state.mn.us/
- Hemp Program https://www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/hemp
References
- [1] "Office of Cannabis Management. Available: https://cannabis.mn.gov/"
- [2] "Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Available: https://dps.mn.gov/Pages/default.aspx"
- [3] "Metrc secures Minnesota's medical cannabis track-and-trace contract. Available: https://mjbizdaily.com/metrc-secures-minnesotas-medical-cannabis-track-and-trace-contract/"
- [5] "Minnesota Department of Health. Available: https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/cannabis/index.html"
- [12] "MPR News. 'Recreational cannabis is now legal in Minnesota.' Available: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2023/08/01/recreational-cannabis-is-now-legal-in-minnesota-heres-what-we-know"
- [13] "Official Minnesota Cannabis Portal. Available: https://mn.gov/ocm/consumers/adult-use/"
- [16] "Minnesota Compassionate Care Act. Available: https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-marijuana-legalization-bill-law-cannabis-cultivation-dispensaries-business-pot-weed-legal/600275325/"
- [17] "Office of Cannabis Management 'General Licenses' Available: https://mn.gov/ocm/businesses/licensing/"
- [18] "Minnesota Department of Health, 'Qualifying Conditions for Medical Cannabis.' Available: https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/cannabis/patients/conditions.html"