Minnesota cannabis regulators have announced that they will no longer hold an early lottery for social equity applicants seeking business licenses in the new marijuana market. This decision comes after a judge blocked the Office of Cannabis Management from holding the preapproval lottery due to lawsuits filed by applicants who claimed they were unfairly denied entry. The license preapproval lottery was meant to give veterans, residents of high-poverty areas, and those negatively affected by cannabis prohibition a head start in the industry.
As a result of the decision to cancel the preapproval lottery, aspiring cannabis entrepreneurs will have to wait until next year to compete for business licenses. This delay will also affect cannabis cultivation, potentially leading to a shortage of supply when the marijuana market opens next year. The Office of Cannabis Management has shared a new timeline indicating that the license application process for the general public will open in mid-February, with a new lottery to be held in May or June.
Interim OCM director Charlene Briner stated that the office remains committed to launching an equitable and responsible cannabis marketplace in Minnesota. She highlighted that the decision preserves some social equity benefits that were part of the preapproval process. Briner also mentioned that the 648 applicants who were accepted into the early preapproval lottery will automatically be included in the broader lottery without needing to pay an additional application fee. Stay updated on this developing story by checking back on StarTribune.com for more updates.
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