Office of Cannabis Management Begins Notifying Accepted Applicants for Recreational Marijuana Licensing

OG Article

Evan Berg

Apr 15, 2025

ST PAUL, Minn.- The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) announced on Monday, April 14, that it was beginning to coordinate with recreational marijuana business license applicants about their next steps now that it can move forward with the approval process.

Josh Collins, communications director at OCM, says that the businesses it is notifying right now are from uncapped categories including small time retailers (microbusinesses), wholesalers, testing labs and transportation businesses. 

Before they can open their doors Collins says next steps will require them to pass  state inspections related to the business's specific category and the local zoning ordinances in their city or county.

He says in the next several weeks and months the office expects the businesses that will be best equipped to enter the market now that licensing is moving forward will be medical dispensaries that applied for a medical combination business license.

Those businesses already have the supply chain infrastructure to sell cannabis for medical purposes, which he says can give them a major head start when entering the new recreational market.

He says the office has also seen signs that plenty of microbusiness licensed retailers across the state are ready to go as well. 

"We know some of our applicants are going to be taking their time, they're still looking at retail locations and working with their local communities to find sites  but there are some that ready to go. They've already been engaging with those local officials," Collins siad. 

As they navigate these final requirements Collins says his office expects the first of these businesses to open their doors by late spring or early summer.

Shelly Buchanan, owner of the Hempire vape shop, says her business has applied for a microbusiness license at its Superior Drive Northwest location.

As a business with 6 employees across multiple locations trying to break into the new industry, she says she chose to start with a license for one location to increase her chances of getting licensed in this first wave.

"We're ready to hit the ground running if given the chance. We have great plans for the future, but a license is needed first,' Buchanan said.

According to Collins, businesses seeking larger licenses will have stiff competition, with four of the major licenses being capped.

Those applicants may have to wait a little longer to get into the business and include retailers with multiple locations, large chains (mezzo businesses) cultivators who want to grow the plant and manufacturers seeking to process them into new products.

Businesses in those categories will have to wait until late May or early June for a lottery due to limited licenses.