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How To Open A Dispensary In Minnesota
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On May 29, 2014, Minnesota signed medical cannabis legislation SF2470 into law, known as the Medical Cannabis Therapeutic Use Act, authorizing the creation of a medical marijuana program.
Currently Minnesota has submitted a recreational bill, HF 100, that will legalize cannabis for adults 21 and over within the state. They have revised this bill to include provisions such as a new license type to see low poetency cannabis products. Items such as these allow shops that currently sell low potency cannabis to not face disruption, as long as they have a liquor license.
As of March 2019, Minnesota has 15,687 qualifying patients with active registry enrollment and 1,494 physicians registered to recommend medical marijuana. Although the program continues to see growth in patient numbers, medical marijuana manufacturers have struggled.
Application Fees/Start up costs
The application period is closed. There are no medical marijuana licenses available in Minnesota at this time.
Available License Types
Under bill HF 600, the following licenses will be available within the state:
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Cannabis Cultivator
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Cannabis Retailer
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Cannabis Wholesaler
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Cannabis Transporter
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Cannabis Testing Facility
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Cannabis Micro-Business
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Cannabis Event Organizer
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Cannabis Delivery Service
These licenses will be available pending the adoption into law of HF 100.
Acquiring Multiple Licenses
Restrictions on the number of licenses or type of license applies to every director, manager, or general partner of a cannabis business under HF100.
Cannabis Cultivation License
A medical cannabis cultivator license may hold: a medical cannabis processor
license, a cannabis cultivator license, a cannabis manufacturer license, and a cannabis event organizer license.
Cannabis Processor License
A medical cannabis processor license may hold: a medical cannabis cultivator
license, a cannabis cultivator license, a cannabis manufacturer license, and a cannabis event organizer license.
Cannabis Retailer License
A medical cannabis retailer license may hold: a cannabis retailer license, a cannabis
delivery service license, and a cannabis event organizer license.
Qualifying Conditions
Minnesota physicians are able to recommend medical marijuana to patients with the following qualifying conditions:
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Cancer associated with severe/chronic pain, nausea or severe vomiting, or cachexia or severe wasting
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Glaucoma
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HIV/AIDS
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Tourette Syndrome
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
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Seizures, including Epilepsy
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Severe and persistent muscle spasms, including Multiple Sclerosis
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Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease
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Terminal illness, with a probable life expectancy of less than one year, if the illness or treatment produces severe/chronic pain, nausea or severe vomiting, cachexia or severe wasting
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Intractable pain
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
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Autism
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Obstructive Sleep Apnea
History
On May 29, 2014, Minnesota signed medical marijuana legislation SF2470 into law. This Bill was the result of a compromise between the Senate and the House, each of which had passed a different medical marijuana bills earlier that month. The Senate bill included more patients, including those with PTSD, severe nausea, wasting, and intractable pain, and more dispensaries, while costing significantly less. The House bill reflected demands from law enforcement, including prohibiting patients from using marijuana flowers or leaves in their natural form, having a monopoly manufacturer, and including an observational study. The final bill represented a compromise on many of these issues.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) registered two medical marijuana manufacturers on December 1, 2014. The two marijuana manufacturers are responsible for the cultivation, production, and distribution of medical cannabis in the state.
On September 5, 2014, the Minnesota Department of Health released a request for applications for medical marijuana manufacturers. On December 1, 2014, the Commissioner of Health registered two manufacturers for production of medical marijuana products in Minnesota. Each is required to establish four distribution centers, one in each of the state’s eight Congressional districts.
Final regulations for the medical cannabis program, Minnesota Department of Health Chapter 4770, were published in 2015. On June 1, 2015, Minnesota began accepting applications by individuals seeking to be registered patients or designated caregivers.
The Minnesota Department of Health registered two medical marijuana manufacturers on December 1, 2014. The two marijuana manufacturers are responsible for the cultivation, production, and distribution of medical marijuana in the state.
There are no medical marijuana licenses available in Minnesota at this time
Governor Tim Walz stated in 2019 that Minnesota is prepared to move forward with recreational or adult-use marijuana but he is seeing opposition from a Republican controlled Senate .
Estimated market size
how to start a marijuana business minnesota
If you are just starting your marijuana business, the next best step is to start a Business Plan to help educate your team and be ready to apply for a marijuana business license. If you are ready to apply for a Marijuana Business License in Minnesota, please Contact us or call our offices to set an appointment to get started. You can also select another State Opportunity, or fill out our Contact Form to discuss potential strategies such as Investment or Partnership Opportunities.