Minnesota’s marijuana legalization law, signed by Governor Time Walz in May, is on track to be in full effect come early 2025.
“We are on track to successfully launch the legal marijuana industry in early 2025″, says Charlene Briner, interim director for the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). “We are all putting in a lot of work to keep us on track.”
Briner was brought on recently to replace Erin Dupree, who resigned in September just days after being appointed director of the OCM by Governor Walz.
Briner says her primary task at the moment is filling the 120 positions that will encompass the Office of Cannabis Management. She hopes to have around a quarter of these positions filled by spring, 2024, and the remainder filled by the end of the year.
The provisions in Minnesota’s marijuana law that allows those 21 and olde to legally possess and cultivate marijuana went into effect on August 1. Although the state-licensed marijuana stores aren’t expected to open until 2025, two tribal marijuana stores are already open to everyone 21 and older.
The OCM’s Rulemaking Process and Estimated Timeline, announced in August, goes as follows:
- Drafting of Rules: Fall 2023 Fall 2024 Outreach and Collaboration: Beginning Fall 2023
- Ongoing conversations with stakeholders and general public throughout drafting process
- Inform and consuit with public and experts; solicit feedback to improve finished rules
- Coordination with Minnesota Revisor of Statutes: Fall/Winter 2024
- Notice of intent to Adopt Publication: Late 2024
- Public written comment period: may submit comments for 30 days following NOI publication
- Approval by ALI: within 14 days after submission by OCM
- Publication of Notice of Adoption (rules become effective): Spring 2025
Earlier this month the University of Minnesota officially launched a state-funded Cannabis Research Center.
In August Minnesota’s St. Cloud State University announced multiple 24-week certificate courses making them the first in Minnesota to ever offer marijuana certificates. The program, with the tagline “Become an Industry Leader”, is being offered as part of a partnership with Green Flower, a marijuana training company located in California.
