Minnesota’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) will hold its first round of marijuana business license lotteries this Thursday, June 5.
The upcoming drawings will cover both social equity and general applicants seeking cultivation, manufacturing, and mezzobusiness licenses—categories that OCM says are essential to building out the state’s recreational marijuana infrastructure. In addition, a separate lottery will be held the same day for social equity applicants pursuing a cannabis retailer license. A separate drawing for general retailer applicants is scheduled for later this summer.
The June 5 lotteries will be livestreamed on the OCM’s official YouTube channel, with results posted online and sent directly to applicants once the drawings are complete.
The state legalized marijuana in 2023, allowing adults 21 and older to possess, use, and grow marijuana at home. Retail sales are expected to begin either later this year or in early 2026, depending on how quickly licensing and supply chains are established. The law also mandates automatic expungement of some past marijuana convictions and includes provisions to prioritize licensing for social equity applicants.
