The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) announced Monday that the state’s first adult-use cannabis licensing lotteries will be held on June 5.
The lotteries will cover social equity and general applications for three cannabis license types: cultivators, manufacturers, and mezzobusinesses. There will also be a licensing lottery for social equity applicants applying for cannabis retailer licenses, with the general retailer license lottery following in July. Social equity applicants who are not selected during the first lottery will qualify for a second chance in the general lottery.
The lotteries will prioritize “applications for the license types necessary to successfully stage the market,” OCM Interim Director Eric Taubel said.
“Today’s announcement 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.” — Taubel, in a statement
“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,” OCM Director of Social Equity Jess Jackson said in a statement.
Minnesota officials originally scheduled an early licensing lottery for social equity applicants last December, but legal challenges foiled the plan.
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