The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) announced that the state will hold its first adult-use cannabis licensing lotteries on June 5, marking a major step forward in launching the legal market.
The upcoming lotteries will include both social equity and general applicants for three core license types: cultivators, manufacturers, and mezzobusinesses. A separate licensing lottery for social equity retailer applicants will also be conducted in June, with the general retailer license lottery set for July.
Applicants not selected in the social equity round will automatically qualify for a second chance in the general lottery, giving those disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition multiple opportunities to enter the market.
“This reflects the office’s goal to license the supply chain from the starting points in order to foster an equitable cannabis market that prioritizes public health and safety, consumer confidence, and market integrity,” said OCM Interim Director Eric Taubel.
Jess Jackson, Director of Social Equity at OCM, praised the progress, saying, “It’s exciting to see the entrepreneurial spirit of our applicants as they get closer to having a license in hand and prepare to open their doors for business.”
Minnesota had originally planned to launch its social equity licensing lottery in December 2023, but those efforts were delayed due to legal challenges. The June 5 lottery marks the first official rollout under the revised timeline, signaling the state’s renewed push to establish a fair and functioning adult-use cannabis market.
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