Minnesota Cannabis Licensing Opportunities in 2025
By Jason Tarasek
Dec 20, 2024
The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) recently announced its decision to cancel the social equity licensing lottery previously planned for 2024. Despite this setback, the new application timeline could potentially favor those interested in obtaining licenses in 2025. Applications for all license types will be accepted from February 18, 2025 to March 14, 2025. Read on to learn about the available licenses, license limits, social equity opportunities, and important deadlines.
Limited Licenses
Four cannabis business license types are limited and will be subject to lotteries in mid-2025: cultivation, manufacturing, retailer, and mezzobusiness. Pursuant to the relevant statute, OCM will issue at least the following number of these cannabis licenses to applicants:
Licenses Available for Social Equity Applicants
- Cultivator: 25
- Manufacturer: 12
- Retailer: 75
- Mezzobusiness: 50
Licenses Available for General Applicants
- Cultivator: 25
- Manufacturer: 12
- Retailer: 75
- Mezzobusiness: 50
Fifty percent of all limited licenses are reserved exclusively for social equity applicants. If you are seeking a limited license type and you have not already become social equity verified, you must obtain verification for social equity status between January 15 and January 30. Importantly, this could be the last chance to obtain social equity status in 2025.
Unlimited Licenses
The unlimited license types, including delivery, transporter, wholesaler, testing lab, and microbusiness, will be issued earlier in 2025. License holders for these types could become operational as soon as March or April 2025.
Minnesota Cannabis License Application Timeline
OCM will accept applications for all license types between February 18 and March 14, 2025.
Lotteries for limited license types will occur in May or June. A lottery for social equity applicants will be immediately followed by a lottery for general applicants. Social equity applicants who do not win a license may choose to enter the general lottery.
Prepare Your Cannabis License Applications Early
Those interested in applying for a Minnesota cannabis license or seeking social equity status are encouraged to thoroughly prepare their applications ahead of the application deadline.
Contact the licensing team at Vicente LLP for assistance with navigating social equity verification and the license application process in Minnesota’s new adult-use cannabis market.