Waiting for a thaw

MN CANNABIS UPDATES

The Minnesota legislative session begins on Feb. 17, and we have insight on what OCM plans to ask the Legislature for this session! They include:

• Removing the requirement to obtain a new license when a business changes entity structure (e.g., evolving from an LLC to another structure) and making transfers easier where legally allowed

• Removing the prohibition on holding both a hemp and cannabis license at the same time

• Moving from a per-event event organizer license to an annual license with per-event registration

Thanks to Maren Schroeder of Blunt Strategies for keeping us informed! She says, “The legislature returns on Tuesday, February 17th for what should be an interesting short, policy-focused session. With all of the political dynamics in the air right now, it is hard to predict what will and won't happen. If you’re interested in staying informed, or want help having your voice heard, contact [email protected].”

I am also hearing about other possible cannabis legislation this session, including extending the in-Minnesota testing deadline for hemp THC (currently, it has been extended to March 31, but testing capacity is still an intense bottleneck for the adult-use market, as Clem Dabney discusses in his Star Tribune article this week)

Minnesota cannabis leaders decried the arrest of Nekima Levy Armstrong by federal authorities, reported Green State (Jan. 23). She is a civil rights leader and hemp THC entrepreneur; this New York Times article (gift link) has updates and more.

OCM warned cannabis businesses of a phishing scheme using their publicly-available data released by OCM.

Cannabis genetics and growing methods may constitute "trade secrets," reports a Minnesota Lawyer article. The article includes detailed advice to protect trade secrets from Austin Spillane, attorney at Nilan Johnson Lewis, which I'm excerpting here to make it accessible to my readers:

Guest Blog: Minnesota Right-to-Know Requirements: Respirators in the Cannabis Industry - What OSHA Requires and Why the Difference Matters

By Cathy Hovde of Resilient EHS

Cannabis cultivation and processing generate airborne hazards that make respiratory protection a critical part of workplace safety. Cannabis dust, mold spores, terpenes, and chemical vapors can all trigger respiratory irritation, asthma-like symptoms, or sensitization.

An issue in the cannabis industry is confusion over dust masks, N95 respirators, and half‑facepiece elastomeric respirators. These devices differ in protection levels, are not interchangeable, and are regulated differently by OSHA.

Cathy breaks down the different kinds of respirators, what protection they offer and where they fit in cannabis operations.

READ MORE HERE →

OTHER CANNABIS NEWS

On federal cannabis rescheduling: “We don’t have any comment or updates,” Wyn Hornbuckle, the Department of Justice Deputy Director of Public Affairs, told Marijuana Moment on the DOJ’s progress on President Trump’s Executive Order to move rescheduling forward.

In federal hemp news, Rep. Griffith introduced a bi-partisan bill to federally regulate hemp, praised by the Hemp Beverage Alliance, who say, "The HEMP Act is designed to create a future for American hemp products that will bring regulatory certainty and allow for safer products to be sold in the United States." Under the HEMP Act, the FDA must initiate a rulemaking process to set milligram limits of cannabinoid products. If the FDA fails to release a final rule within three years of the measure’s enactment, federal law will automatically establish limits of 5 milligrams per serving and 30 milligrams per package. Read more about the bill on the HBA's website. This is in addition to the bill introduced by Angie Craig (MN) and others to delay the effectiveness of the ban from this November for two more years.

High January is the new Dry January, reports the New York Times, reporting on the sector's $850 million in sales (and growing)

The Promise Of ‘Craft Cannabis’ Has Not Been Realized—Due To Policy Decisions Favoring Big Companies (Op-Ed) | Marijuana Moment

Illinois: Chicago’s United Center, home to the NBA’s Bulls and the NHL’s Blackhawks, has become the first major U.S. arena to offer hemp-derived THC beverages at most concerts and live events through a new multi-year partnership with local brands Señorita and RYTHM.

Missouri: Curaleaf revealed its intentions to wind down its hemp division and cease operations in Missouri.

Also in Missouri: Seven cannabis growers were fined for violating the state’s “immaculate conception” rule by using out-of-state clones or seeds instead of locally grown plants.

Ohio: Cities that host cannabis dispensaries received their first round of tax revenue, with amounts varying widely by locality.

Texas: Circle K franchise locations in the Dallas–Fort Worth area have started selling Varin’s hemp‑derived THC beverages, marking an expansion into convenience stores despite regulatory uncertainty.

Confidential Industry Classifieds

• A real estate agent reports that he is working to fill two approved spaces for cannabis cultivation in the south metro. One space is about 12,000/SF and the other around 6,000/SF.

• A broker reports that a group with retail in several locations that have local approvals (in capped markets) is looking to sell ownership due to bandwidth and funding issues.

• A broker is offering mezzo (non-SEA), mezzo SEA, and micro licenses for sale.

Contact Jen at [email protected] to be connected to the poster for more information on any of these opportunities. Note: These are not projects of North Star Cannabis Consulting.

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