Congratulations to those of you who submitted a license application last week! That was a pile of work, and I applaud your hard work and determination.

And welcome to the new readers who found me at the Lucky Leaf conference and otherwise! This is a newsletter about and for the Minnesota cannabis industry - especially the small & micro cannabusiness entrepreneurs.

My hope is to help educate and connect people to one another so we can build a successful industry full of craft, innovation, and healthy small cannabis businesses in Minnesota.

Minnesota Cannabis News

The application period for licenses has ended, though not without tech incident - OCM’s Accela site crashed at 9 PM on the last day. OCM extended the deadline to accommodate the demand.

From OCM: Minnesota Grants

CanRenew Community Restoration Grant

The CanRenew program, established by the Minnesota Legislature in the 2023 cannabis bill, invests in communities disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition, fostering development, safety, and stability. By funding projects focused on economic development, social determinants of health, violence prevention, and youth engagement, CanRenew supports organizations making a meaningful impact in community renewal. CanRenew grant funds are not intended to support cannabis business operations and cannot be used on revenue generating projects. The deadline to apply is March 24 by 11:59 p.m. CDT. Visit the OCM CanRenew webpage to learn how to apply.

 CanNavigate and CanStartup Grants

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced two new programs to support organizations that will assist businesses operating in the state's adult-use cannabis industry. Up to $8 million of state funding is available for service providers to help business owners – specifically social equity business owners and entrepreneurs from disproportionately impacted communities.

CanNavigate (Cannabis Industry Navigation Grants) offers up to $2 million in competitively awarded grants to community-based entrepreneurial support organization (ESOs) and organizations with cannabis regulatory experts to help individuals navigate the regulatory structure of operating a business in the legal cannabis industry. There is an emphasis on serving individuals whose social equity status has been verified and people facing barriers to employment. Proposals to be a Cannabis Industry Navigation (CanNavigate) service provider are being accepted from March 10 through April 11. https://mn.gov/deed/business/financing-business/deed-programs/cannavigate/

CanStartup (Cannabis Industry Startup Financing Grants) will award up to $6 million in grants to nonprofit lenders to fund loans to new cannabis microbusinesses and support job creation in communities where long-term residents are eligible to be social equity applicants. Proposals to be a nonprofit lender partner are being accepted from March 10 to April 9. https://mn.gov/deed/business/financing-business/deed-programs/canstartup/ . Learn more about both programs.

Legal Cannabis Dual Training Grant

The Minnesota Office of Higher Education launched the request for proposal for the Legal Cannabis Dual Training Grant. Dual training grant recipients can use the funds to help cover costs related to instruction toward attaining an industry-recognized degree, certificate or credential for their employees through a dual-training program. View the eligible occupations here. Learn more about this opportunity by visiting the Dual Training Grant: Legal Cannabis Industry website. Grant management system user Registration Deadline: April 9, 2025 ; Request for Proposal Deadline: April 15, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. CT

Other Minnesota Cannabis News

The Minnesota Legislative Session is in full swing.

Jen’s take: I like to think of this middle phase of a legislative session as when legislators throw everything against the wall and see what sticks. Thus, lots of bills get introduced; hearings are held to gauge legislative and popular support; later in the spring we’ll start to see which ideas move forward and how. So, it’s a phase where it is important to be heard, and also not to over-react, as most bills will not become law.

Six cannabis bills to keep your eyes on, per the Star Tribune 3/7:

• HF 308: This bill would repeal a law requiring drug dealers to purchase tax stamps from the Department of Revenue for illegal drugs they sell.

• HF 752: This bill would allow local governments to prohibit retail marijuana sales and ban licensed cannabis businesses from operating within their jurisdictions. Local governments would also be allowed to enact interim ordinances restricting or prohibiting the operation of cannabis businesses for up to two years.

  The bill would require the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) to refund any license application fees to applicants who were granted license preapproval for a cannabis business in a jurisdiction where such businesses are prohibited.

• HF 755: This bill would require the OCM to limit the “total THC” content (using a formula for calculating potency that combines the amounts of Delta-9 THC and THCA) of cannabis flower, other cannabis products as well as lower-potency, hemp-derived products and edibles. It would ban flavored smokable cannabis products and vapes. The bill would also ban advertisements that promote the consumption of alcohol while consuming cannabis or lower-potency, hemp-derived products.

• HF1254: This bill has several elements.

  • It would add add tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) to the list of authorized nonintoxicating cannabinoids for lower-potency, hemp-derived edibles, which also include CBD, CBN and CBC.

  • It would raise the limit on authorized cannabinoids other than Delta-9 THC in lower-potency hemp edibles from 25 milligrams to 50 milligrams per serving.

  • It would require that any potency limit established for cannabis concentrates be at least 90% total THC.

  • It would also require that production limits set by the OCM be no less than the equivalent of 20,000 pounds of cannabis flower for cannabis microbusinesses and 60,000 pounds for mezzobusinesses

• HF 1615: This bill would limit the amount of Delta-9 THC in cannabis or hemp-derived beverages to 10 milligrams per container.

• HF1735: This bill would allow liquor wholesalers that register with the OCM to buy, sell, transport and import lower-potency hemp edibles. 

Farewell to MinnPost reporter Peter Callaghan, who has left to return to the Pacific Northwest, according to MinnPost on Sunday.

Jen’s take: Peter Callaghan wrote the above article about tribal compacts as well as many articles detailing Minnesota’s cannabis industry and OCM, asking tough questions and making sense of complex legislative issues. He’s been one of the reporters in town I always read about Minnesota’s cannabis industry, and felt proud to be contacted by as a source. His departure leaves a gap, that’s for sure.

MinnPost is collecting notes of gratitude for Peter here.

Industry Classifieds

House of Oilworx in Anoka is closing after seven years, and has furnishings that new retailers may want to buy: coolers, display cases, etc., as well as an array of Halloween and canna-focused stuff.

Dispensary Real Estate Opportunities

I have been approached by a real estate investor looking for potential renters for two “Minnesota real estate opportunities I have access to that are already zoned and have all municipal approvals in place for a dispensary.”

• One is a new retail location next to the border of a large city in Minnesota, and is described as ideal for a microbiz social equity approval from the last round

• The second is in Worthington, MN, near the IA & SD borders.

Interested in an introduction? More details? Email [email protected]

Real Estate - Cultivation and Manufacturing

Turnkey, Market-Ready Units for Immediate Success

Located just south of the Twin Cities Metro, offers 5,000 sq. ft. turnkey units designed to fast-track operators into the market as well as DIY Options allowing growers to get to growing. Each unit being built market-ready, allowing tenants to seamlessly launch operations without the delays and hurdles of traditional real estate. Whether you are an established brand expanding into Minnesota or an emerging entrepreneur, these plug-and-play spaces give you the advantage of being among the first to market.

Designed for Growth & Efficiency

• 5,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art industrial spaces – Scalable for operators at all stages

• Built-in infrastructure & compliance-ready – No need for costly retrofitting.

• Flexible leasing options – Grow at your own pace without unnecessary overhead.

• DIY Customizable layouts – Adaptable to cultivation, manufacturing, or other license needs.

• Premium amenities & operational support – Designed for seamless daily workflow so operators can focus on their craft.

  These units are part of a larger ecosystem built by operators, for operators, ensuring every aspect of the property maximizes efficiency, security, and long-term business success.

Have a property or services to offer to my readers?

I’m going to try this Classifieds Section approach and see if it helps people connect as they build their businesses. Contact me for more info: [email protected]

Other Cannabis News

From Green Market Report: Efforts in the Texas Senate to ban intoxicating hemp-derived products are intensifying; advocates hope to block a ban or adopt a more reasonable regulation bill via the Texas House.

A new poll shows that a majority of American believe alcohol is more harmful than marijuana. But far more say they still prefer drinking to consuming cannabis….despite the health risks. via Marijuana Moment

As Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau leaves office, a new poll of Canadian adults shows that they believe legalizing marijuana to be former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s greatest success. In fact, it was the only policy of his government to receive majority support.

Jen’s take: This is great evidence that cannabis legalization is a smart political choice even in these polarized times! Canada’s legalization and rollout has been bumpy, and Trudeau unpopular among many Canadians - and yet this poll shows us it’s a positive part of his legacy.

Upcoming Events

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