Cannabis license application periods and issuance modification

A bill for an act

relating to cannabis; modifying cannabis license application periods and issuance;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 342.14, subdivisions 1b, 2.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 342.14, subdivision 1b, is amended to read:

Subd. 1b.

Maximum number of licenses.

(a) Before July 1, 2026, the office may issue

up to the maximum total number of licenses in each license category listed in paragraphs

(b) and (c).

(b) For licenses that are available to social equity applicants, the maximum number of

licenses that the office may issue are:

(1) cannabis cultivator licenses, 25;

(2) cannabis manufacturer licenses, 12;

(3) cannabis retailer licenses, 75; and

(4) cannabis mezzobusiness licenses, 50.

(c) For licenses that are available to all applicants, the maximum number of licenses

that the office may issue are:

(1) cannabis cultivator licenses, 25;

(2) cannabis manufacturer licenses, 12;

(3) cannabis retailer licenses, 75; and

(4) cannabis mezzobusiness licenses, 50.

(d) Beginning July 1, 2026, the office must determine the number of cannabis cultivator

licenses, cannabis manufacturer licenses, cannabis retailer licenses, and cannabis

mezzobusiness licenses that the office will issue consistent with the goals identified in

subdivision 1a. If the office makes any of those types of licenses available, the number of

licenses available to social equity applicants must be equal to or greater than the number

of licenses available to all applicants.

(e) The office may issue as many
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cannabis microbusiness
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licenses as the office deems

necessary
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of a license type that is not listed in this subdivision
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.
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If the office limits the number

of license types not listed in this subdivision available in any licensing period,
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The office

must identify the number of
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cannabis microbusiness
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licenses available to social equity

applicants and the number of
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cannabis microbusiness
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licenses available to all applicants.

The number of
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cannabis microbusiness
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licenses available to social equity applicants must

be equal to or greater than the number of
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cannabis microbusiness
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licenses available to all

applicants.
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The office must not limit the number of cannabis wholesaler licenses, cannabis

transporter licenses, cannabis testing facility licenses, cannabis event organizer licenses, or

cannabis delivery service licenses.
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The office is not required to issue a license for a license

type that is
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not
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listed in this
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subdivision
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paragraph
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.

(f) The office is not required to issue licenses to meet the maximum number of licenses

that may be issued under paragraphs (b) and (c).

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 342.14, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Licensing periods; initial application.

(a) The office must announce the

commencement of a licensing period in advance of accepting applications for
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cannabis

business licenses
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cannabis cultivator licenses, cannabis manufacturer licenses, cannabis

retailer licenses, cannabis microbusiness licenses, or cannabis mezzobusiness licenses
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. At

a minimum, the announcement must include:

(1) the types of licenses that will be available during the licensing period;

(2) if the office limits the number of a type of license that will be available, the number

of that type of license available in the licensing period;

(3) the date on which the office will begin accepting applications; and

(4) the date on which the office will no longer accept applications.

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(b) The office must accept applications for cannabis wholesaler licenses, cannabis

transporter licenses, cannabis testing facility licenses, cannabis event organizer licenses, or

cannabis delivery service licenses at any time.

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(b)
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(c)
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An applicant must submit all required information and the applicable application

fee to the office on the forms and in the manner prescribed by the office.

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(c)
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(d)
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If the office receives an application that fails to provide the required information

or pay the applicable application fee, the office shall issue a deficiency notice to the applicant.

The applicant may submit the required information or pay the required application fee within

14 calendar days from the date of the deficiency notice.

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(d)
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(e)
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Failure by an applicant to submit all required information or pay the application

fee to the office will result in the application being rejected.