In a recent court ruling, Judge Jennifer Frisch ordered the Minnesota Office of Medical Cannabis (OCM) to reinstate a pre-approval lottery system for issuing licenses to cannabis businesses. The decision came after a group of petitioners, led by lobbyist Leili Fatehi of Blunt Strategies, challenged the OCM’s decision to eliminate the lottery system. Fatehi expressed confidence that the reinstated lottery would not delay the issuance of licenses to the broader public, with the OCM expected to hold its first lotteries in May or June.
Shaun Tetreault, a social equity applicant and petitioner in the case, was pleased with the judge’s ruling. Tetreault, who hopes to open a cannabis cultivation business in Chisago City, believes he now has a better chance of obtaining a license. He described the process as emotionally exhausting but expressed relief at the decision.
The reinstatement of the pre-approval lottery system could have a significant impact on the allocation of cannabis licenses in Minnesota. The ruling is seen as a win for social equity applicants like Tetreault, who have faced challenges in obtaining licenses in the competitive cannabis industry. The OCM will now need to adjust its licensing process to comply with the court’s decision, which could lead to more equitable distribution of licenses in the state.
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