MN Office of Cannabis Management vetting final applicants for license lottery
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Minnesota's Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) said it is vetting the final applicants for a cannabis business social equity lottery after thousands applied.
What we know
A total of 2,307 applicants were verified for social equity verification out of the 3,144 applications. Of those verified, 1,817 then applied for license preapproval.
The OCM is now vetting the applicants, and qualified applicants will go into a lottery for 282 available licenses.
The OCM said the window for license preapproval was open from July 24 to Aug. 12.
READ MORE: Cannabis social equity license preapproval window now open in MN
Applicants will also have to complete a background check ahead of license approval.
What comes next
State officials say the lottery will be scheduled after all the applications are vetted. Applicants can check the Office of Cannabis Management website for updates.
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The OCM also released its first draft of proposed rules for the state's cannabis industry, which the office said is a work in progress based on feedback from surveys, meetings, and conversations with the public. That draft can be viewed below:
People can submit feedback on the first draft of proposed rules until Friday, Aug. 30.
Those interested can also attend the Minnesota Legal Cannabis Industry Forum that is scheduled for 9-10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 8.
READ MORE: Minnesota's cannabis law: 1 year later, law is still hazy
Early cultivation is set to begin this fall ahead of the retail sales expected to begin sometime in 2025.