Special Edition: 2 Days to the Lottery

North Star Cannabis Consulting Newsletter

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I’m excited to see the national attention on Minnesota as we near the license lottery, and the progress that we are making towards market launch.

People ask me all the time when dispensaries will open. It’s NOW. It’s last week if you count White Earth’s new off-tribal land dispensary in Moorhead. Or if you mean folks actually getting through the process with OCM, I expect those to start opening within weeks.

This is a sprint for real estate and market share, as we open a brand-new industry. That’s why I am launching the North Star Accelerator Program, to help the smaller players have access to quality information, community support, and resources to build fast and well. If you are working towards launch in Minnesota (including if you win in the lottery on Thursday), I hope you’ll consider joining! Learn More

P.S. Next regular newsletter won’t be this Thursday, as I’ll be going to watch parties and the SotaCann HH on Thursday night and the Grower’s Ball on Friday night. I’ll seek to post updates on Instagram and target Monday for another special edition.

P.P.S. I’d love to hear your news, good or bad. Email me at [email protected] 

Jen Randolph Reise (photo by Angela Knox)

MINNESOTA CANNABIS NEWS

License lottery is Thursday at 11 AM and 2 AM!

The long-awaited lottery to choose the applicants who will be able to move ahead in the capped license categories is finally here!

What we know from OCM so far:

  • The license application lotteries will be livestreamed for members of the public and the media via the office’s YouTube Channel:  youtube.com/@MNCannabisManagement. Results will be posted to OCM’s website and shared with applicants after completion.

  • They will draw the social equity categories at 11 AM, break, and then draw the regular categories at 2 PM. That break facilitates including all of the SEAs that did not get picked in the morning in the general round lottery in the afternoon.

CanGrow Grants are Due Today

More information and application links here.

EVENT REMINDERS

Next Steps for Cannabis Applicants

The Minnesota Craft Cannabis Guild has pulled together a terrific panel for license applicants and others to be able to get their questions answered on the eve of the lottery! I, Carol Moss, and Eric Taubel, interim OCM Director, will be at Earl Giles on Wednesday evening to answer your questions on the eve of the lottery.

Register here now (free, but seats are limited)

First Tribal Compact Signed

I’m coordinating with tribal cannabis law expert Keith Anderson, the local Teamsters, and Oaksterdam University to offer a a free webinar TODAY, June 2, at 6 PM Central called Fact, Fiction, and the Future. Register here (space is limited).

Pending Litigation Resolved

All the pending litigation around the lottery process has now been resolved.

On Friday, OCM and the “Qualified Applicants” group announced a settlement that benefits all social equity applicants.

And yesterday, the Minnesota Court of Appeals issued their ruling on the Cristina Araguiiz et al case. Opinion is available here. It's technical, but the upshot is that OCM can move forward with the lottery as planned and this litigation is over.

More Resources for License Applicants:

Follow me on Insta!

I have been posting more on Insta about and for the Minnesota cannabis industry, with the help of Mochi the Adventure Kitten. You are definitely going to want to give me a follow.

The North Star Accelerator Program

Launch Your Minnesota Cannabis Business — Fast, Smart, and Compliant

The North Star Accelerator is a high-impact, fast-paced program designed for founders ready to sprint toward opening day. If you're serious about launching a successful and compliant cannabis business, this program is for you.

What You Get

📋 Launch Checklist: Stay focused and on track with a personalized checklist built for Minnesota cannabis entrepreneurs.

📞 Live Weekly Webinars (Tues @ Noon): Stay up to date with insider updates — plus a weekly opportunity for Q&A with Jen and your cohort.

🤲 Community & Shared Experience: Build relationships with others who are in the same sprint — people making real moves, facing real challenges, and sharing what’s working (and what’s not) in Minnesota’s brand-new cannabis market.

🤝 Preferred Provider Network: Tap into vetted connections for banking, POS, and more, with exclusive discounts.

📚 Growing Resource Library: Access recordings of the weekly webinars, templates, tools, recordings, and connections that evolve with the program.

📬 Confidential Access to Jen: Ability to book confidential 1:1s at a discount to Jen’s hourly rates.

👥 Accountability & Community: Stay motivated with a cohort that shares your urgency and your goals.

Cost

$100 / week (at launch). Minimum of 4 weeks; cancel anytime thereafter.

Founding Member Benefits

🔒 Lock in $100/week for life — your rate won’t increase (unless you leave and rejoin later).

🎯 Be part of building something big — founding members help shape the program as it grows.

Who This is For

Applicants in capped and uncapped license categories ready to move quickly to launch compliant businesses. No MSOs, and no assholes. Membership is subject to Jen’s approval — I want to make sure you’re a fit!

This Is a Sprint

The Minnesota cannabis market is opening — and speed matters. The North Star Accelerator Program is designed to help you move fast, make smart decisions, and build a business that lasts. This is your shortcut to fewer mistakes, better connections, and expert insight at a price built for small businesses.

Ready to Launch?

Join the North Star Accelerator Program today.
Secure your spot at $100/week — before the next price increase.

First meeting is Tuesday, June 10. (Lottery winners, I’m looking forward to working with you!)

Click below, or simply reply to this email to tell me you’re in!

Keep more of what you earn

Collective is the first all-in-one financial solution exclusively for solopreneurs. Members save an average of $10,000 a year by optimizing their taxes via an S Corp.*

Membership includes:

  • LLC and S Corp formation

  • Payroll

  • Monthly bookkeeping

  • Quarterly tax estimates

  • Annual business tax filing

  • Access to a team of experts

Enjoy peace of mind while maximizing your profits, and enjoy extra time to focus on growing your business.

Use code SPRINGFREE at checkout and get your first month free!

*Based on the average 2022 tax savings of active Collective users with an S Corp tax election for the 2022 tax year

Jen’s take: Collective isn’t for everyone, but as an S-Corp solopreneur I am finding it helpful in managing bookkeeping and accounting tasks! If you are ready to sign up, use my link for a month free (affiliate link)

Last call for the Grower’s Ball! Good news, they have extended the deadline for General Admission tickets until Thursday end of day. They are $30 and BYOB. Buy Here

I’ll be there and so will LOTS of applicants, legacy growers, cool industry folks, and cannabis fans who want a tour of the historic Wabasha Caves.

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