The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) today held its first-ever lotteries to determine which applicants will advance toward receiving limited cannabis business licenses.
The cannabis lottery was livestreamed on Youtube.
The drawings, held separately for social equity applicants and general applicants, covered four license types currently capped under state law: cultivator, manufacturer, mezzobusiness, and retailer.
The lotteries mark a major step in Minnesota’s rollout of adult-use marijuana sales. In total, over 770 qualified applicants were entered into the drawings, which were livestreamed publicly. The social equity license drawings can be viewed here, and the general applicant drawings here.
For cannabis cultivators, 51 social equity applicants and 42 general applicants competed for 25 licenses each. Cannabis manufacturers had 41 social equity applicants and 38 general applicants vying for just 12 licenses per group. The mezzobusiness license lottery had the largest pool, with 207 social equity applicants and 41 general applicants competing for 50 licenses each. For cannabis retailers, 356 social equity applicants entered today’s drawing for 75 licenses; those not selected will be included in a July 22 lottery alongside general applicants for another set of 75 licenses.
Applicants who were drawn today must still complete several steps before receiving a license, including background checks, securing a location, gaining local approval, and submitting a finalized business plan. Labor peace agreements with a qualifying union are also required.
“This is an exciting day for business owners preparing to establish themselves in the state’s new adult-use cannabis market,” said OCM Interim Director Eric Taubel.
OCM partnered with Smartplay International and Baker Tilly to conduct and oversee the lotteries. Full results are expected to be posted on OCM’s website later today.
Meanwhile, licensing continues for applicants pursuing uncapped license types such as testing labs, wholesalers, microbusinesses, and medical cannabis combination businesses. Additionally, hemp-derived cannabinoid product seller registration is ongoing, with a new round of hemp licensing set to begin in October.
Minnesota’s regulated marijuana market is expected to launch either later this year, or early 2026.
