Minnesota’s Office of Cannabis Management announced that it’s canceling a planned lottery for special early cannabis licenses intended to help disadvantaged entrepreneurs get a leg-up in the nascent legal marijuana market. The cancellation comes after several people filed suit alleging they were unlawfully denied, and a Ramsey County judge stayed the lottery that was supposed … [Read more...] about Minnesota cannabis agency ditches preapproval license lottery after litigation
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Minnesota cities take different approaches to recreational cannabis market
When you talk to people in different Minnesota cities about how they are preparing for the arrival of recreational cannabis sales sometime next year you will find many different approaches. The Minnesota Legislature set most of the rules about cultivation and sale of recreational marijuana in spring 2023. However, the state left several key decisions within local control, … [Read more...] about Minnesota cities take different approaches to recreational cannabis market
What’s that smell? Twin Cities suburbs adopt odor ordinances before cannabis retail market launches
Its smell is unmistakable — piney and sometimes faintly foul, with an acrid or spicy kick. Its pungency is polarizing: depending on who you ask, the scent of cannabis is enjoyable, tolerable or plainly repulsive. And as Twin Cities suburbs gear up for Minnesota’s recreational marijuana market to launch, some local officials are establishing rules around noxious scents. City … [Read more...] about What’s that smell? Twin Cities suburbs adopt odor ordinances before cannabis retail market launches
Will the delayed cannabis license lottery slow the rollout of Minnesota’s marijuana market?
A critical goal of Minnesota’s first lottery for people seeking cannabis business licenses was to give a select number of cultivators the opportunity to immediately begin growing, helping establish a supply chain of marijuana ahead of next year’s retail market launch.That goal is now in jeopardy after a Ramsey County judge blocked the state’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) … [Read more...] about Will the delayed cannabis license lottery slow the rollout of Minnesota’s marijuana market?
Judge orders Minnesota to delay its cannabis license lottery
About 640 applicants for social equity marijuana licenses will head to the lottery with about 280 total available, but some say the process wasn’t fair. FOX 9's Corin Hoggard has the details. The Brief A Minnesota judge has paused the cannabis license lottery, initially set for this week, following lawsuits from applicants disputing their denials. The state approved 640 out of … [Read more...] about Judge orders Minnesota to delay its cannabis license lottery
Cannabis agency unlawfully denied applications for social equity licenses, lawsuit alleges
The nascent Office of Cannabis Management unlawfully denied two women from participating in the lottery for social equity licenses to operate cannabis businesses in Minnesota, a new lawsuit alleges. Plaintiffs Cristina Aranguiz and Jodi Connolly in a lawsuit filed Thursday allege that the state, in an “arbitrary and capricious decision,” denied their applications to participate … [Read more...] about Cannabis agency unlawfully denied applications for social equity licenses, lawsuit alleges
Weeding out bad actors? Cannabis license lottery entrants chosen
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - The pot of people eligible for Minnesota’s first cannabis license lottery just got a lot smaller. The Brief 1,169 social equity applications for Minnesota's cannabis lottery were rejected, and about 640 will head to the lottery for about 280 licenses. Veterans with rejected applications told FOX 9 the process was unfair and didn't give them a chance … [Read more...] about Weeding out bad actors? Cannabis license lottery entrants chosen
Buy a T-shirt and get a free bag of marijuana? Nope, say Minnesota regulators
Some of the hemp stores and smoke shops recently spanked by the state’s Office of Cannabis Management for dealing in raw cannabis flower tried to get around the ban by giving it away in exchange for making other purchases. Buy a T-shirt, get a bag of pot, for example. “When we first started doing inspections for flower, it was people straight up just selling pot,” said … [Read more...] about Buy a T-shirt and get a free bag of marijuana? Nope, say Minnesota regulators
‘Early mover advantage’: How Minnesota’s new social equity rules for cannabis businesses are playing out so far
Those seeking to be cannabis cultivators or mezzobusiness operators can begin growing plants sometime this fall in response to legislative changes meant to assure there is some legal supply when stores open sometime in the spring. Jessica Jackson looked out over a crowd of could-be recreational cannabis entrepreneurs gathered at Sabathani Community Center in Minneapolis and … [Read more...] about ‘Early mover advantage’: How Minnesota’s new social equity rules for cannabis businesses are playing out so far
Odor Alone No Grounds for Warrantless Vehicle Searches, Minnesota Court Rules
Police across the country continue to pull drivers over for one reason, then choose to search their vehicle for an entirely different reason—if it smells like pot. But it isn’t holding up in court as justification for probable cause. A Minnesota Supreme Court ruling, one of several ruling affirming the decision, suggests police in the state will be barred from citing cannabis … [Read more...] about Odor Alone No Grounds for Warrantless Vehicle Searches, Minnesota Court Rules
