Running down a dream

Hemp-Derived THC Corner

Low-potency licensing opens in October

To sell, manufacture, or wholesale hemp-derived products after October 31, you’ll have to go through licensing in October.

First step: get your status in order so you are eligible for a smooth conversion. Businesses who are not currently registered should register each location here by August 31; you can also update your existing registration here if needed, by August 31.

Labeling rules changing again this fall

Last newsletter, I broke down OCM’s transition rules as we leave Sec. 151 behind and the hemp industry moves fully into Sec. 342.

Read the full guidance here, including the links to Conversion Guides.

Need help navigating these transitions? Let me know at [email protected].

OTHER MINNESOTA CANNABIS NEWS

Eden Prairie, MN is holding a contest to name its official city THC sleep gummy, and it's getting national press! Ganjapreneur picked it up. 

Jen's take: I love to see the normalization that this reflects. (For readers not in MN, Eden Prairie is a very white suburb with lots of golf courses.) Evidently a lot of people in Eden Prairie appreciate a sleepytime gummy and are not afraid to say so! That's progress. 

Minn Post did two stories: hered and here, on the complex landscape of city zoning rules and profiled The Smoking Tree in Albert Lea, a dispensary expected to open soon 15 miles from the Iowa border, and the MN Loon Dispensary in Minneapolis

And CannaConnect profiled Jen ‘s journey - as a homegrower!

NEW FROM OAKSTERDAM UNIVERSITY!

Fall 2025 Certification Cohorts Now Enrolling

Oaksterdam University’s Fall 2025 Live Certification Programs are now open for enrollment. Each program blends self-paced learning with weekly live Zoom sessions taught by industry leaders.

Choose from four tracks:

• Cannabis Breeding Certification with James Loud
  Dive deep into plant genetics, traits, and propagation strategies. (This is an ADVANCED horticulture certification)

• Retail Management Certification
  Equip yourself with the essential skills to lead and manage a successful retail operation in the cannabis industry.

• Cannabis Business Management Certification
  Learn operations, finance, and strategy to grow your cannabis business.

• Budtending & Retail Work Certification 
  Explore how to manage customer experiences, understand products, and ensure compliance in a fast-paced environment.

Live classes begin in September and include interactive sessions, but you'll get immediate access to downloadable resources and on-demand content. Grab your seat and start learning today!

 👉 Explore Programs Use code NORTHSTAR10 to get 10% off

OTHER CANNABIS NEWS

Federal Cannabis News

Federal hemp ban discussions continue, but I haven’t seen anything new since the U.S. Senate Committee proposed closing the intoxicating hemp loophole, but delaying implementation for a year.

The DEA has a new permanent head, Terrance Cole. Jeremy Berke at Cultivated breaks down what we know about Cole, the paused rescheduling process, and messaging from the Trump Administration on cannabis reform.

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved an amendment allowing Veteran’s Affairs doctors to prescribe medical cannabis. This marks the 10th year in a row that similar language has been approved by the committee, but so far it has never been enacted. Similar efforts are ongoing in the House's version of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs Spending Bill, as well as in the Veterans Equal Access Act. Marijuana Moment has more.

Around the U.S.

Leaflink has released its summer 2025 State of the US Cannabis Industry Report, which it developed with the company's in-store sales data. It's worth a read, especially if you are opening a dispensary! Among other nuggets:

Point-of-sale (POS) company Flowhub has introduced Flowhub Ecommerce, "an online ordering platform built fully integrated into its POS system to streamline cannabis retail operations by providing real-time inventory, synced pricing, payments, discounts, and custom branding in a single place without the need for other third-party tools."

California: The California industry is reeling after the early-July huge federal immigration raid on two cannabis cultivation sites in California operated by Glass House Brands, which resulted in at least 360 arrests and one death. "Everyone definitely is scared and I think that was the idea. It worked." California Cannabis Industry Association President Caren Woodson said.

Kentucky: Cultivation in Kentucky's brand-new medical cannabis market has begun.

Michigan: Cultivated reports that, "Michigan has joined the ranks of Maine and Oklahoma, as states where regulators suspect Chinese nationals are involved with illicit grows. Recent arrests have highlighted those concerns, which were raised last month by Cannabis Regulatory Agency Executive Director Brian Hanna. Crain's Detroit put a finer point on it, saying that "Chinese crime rings are exploiting Michigan's legal weed market.".

Nebraska: The Tribal Council of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska has voted unanimously to legalize both adult-use and medical cannabis, positioning the tribe as "a trailblazer in state cannabis reform." This after Nebraska voters approved medical last November, but lawmakers failed to pass legislation implementing the program. According to the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska Attorney General John Cartier in a press release, “The Omaha Tribe is not waiting on broken systems to deliver. We are asserting our sovereign right to govern, protect our community, and build a sustainable economy that reflects our values.”

New Jersey: New Jersey approved four on-site cannabis consumption endorsements, all to Diversely Owned Businesses. In a recent press release Commission Chairwoman Dianna Houenou called the approvals “a major milestone in New Jersey’s cannabis industry. These designated spaces provide consumers with safe and legal options for cannabis consumption. Whether individuals cannot consume cannabis inside their homes or simply wish to consume cannabis legally and responsibly, these areas provide a practical solution. We are proud to support this next phase of safe-use infrastructure in our state.”

Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania is debating legalizing adult-use, and is considering what "social equity" could or should look like. One take: a $50,000 application fee (down from $100k full price) and already controlling the real estate. I appreciated this thoughtful article.

Also:

Ganjapreneur reported on a "new analysis of the global hemp fiber market utilizing recent data that suggests that the hemp fiber space will balloon to over $30 billion by 2033."

The average home values in states that legalized adult-use cannabis grew at a much greater rate than in prohibition states. Over the past 15 years, the difference in average value was more than $60,000.

“These data should mitigate concerns that the establishment of regulated adult-use marijuana markets negatively impacts community safety and prosperity. Rather, cannabis legalization is a proven economic driver. Regulated markets create jobs, disrupt the underground marketplace, and provide for new tax revenues that are redirected back into the local community — resulting in greater economic growth and prosperity, in addition to safer communities.” — NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano, in a statement.

Confidential Industry Classifieds

• Micro with location in St. Paul seeks to hire a General Manager to complete the regulatory steps to open, and run the store.

• Existing tobacco store in St. Paul is interested in sub-leasing all of its space to a retail business.

• Other retail space opportunities are being offered up by real estate investors for assignment or purchase. Locations around the state.

For more information, contact Jen to be connected to the confidential parties: [email protected] 

UPCOMING EVENTS

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