The Office of Cannabis Management is the State of Minnesota government unit responsible for regulating the Minnesota cannabis industry. The Office of Cannabis Management will release applications, issue licenses, and develop regulations outlining how and when businesses can participate in the new adult-use industry in Minnesota. Over the coming months, the new state agency will develop the regulatory framework for legal adult cannabis, and establish processes and timelines to apply for licenses.
For specific information on starting a cannabis business, please visit the State of Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management website.
For specific information on starting a business in the hemp derived cannabinoid industry please find information at the Minnesota Department of Health, Hemp-Derived Cannabinoid Products website.
For inquiries about starting a cannabis business please contact: cannabis.info@state.mn.us.
In the coming months, the Department of Employment and Economic Development will release Requests for Proposals for three grant programs: CanStartup, CanNavigate, and CanTrain. The goal of the Department of Employment and Economic Development's cannabis industry support programs is to promote the success of the Minnesota-based legal cannabis industry through technical assistance, loan capital, and workforce development training. These programs have a focus on supporting Social Equity Applicants and their communities.
CanStartup is a loan program that will be available to new cannabis microbusinesses. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) will award funds to nonprofit corporations through a competitive grant process. The selected nonprofit corporations will provide loans to eligible cannabis microbusinesses with a priority given to social equity applicants. Loans are for $2,500 to $50,000 and can be up to $150,000 with private matching funds. The loan must be made to cannabis microbusinesses that are not likely to undertake the project without assistance from this program.
The CanNavigate Program will award grants to eligible organizations to help individuals navigate the regulatory structure of the legal cannabis industry. Grant money awarded to eligible organizations may be used for both developing technical assistance resources relevant to the regulatory structure of the legal cannabis industry and for providing technical assistance or navigation services to individuals.
The CanTrain program will award grants to eligible organizations to develop and implement a workforce development program that will provide support, navigation services, and training to individuals leading to a relevant career in the legal cannabis industry.
The CanTrain program will award grants to eligible individuals to pursue a training program leading to a career in the legal cannabis industry including tuition, fees, material costs and support services to remove external barriers to success.
Through the Partnership and Pathways programs, the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership (MJSP) provides grants to accredited Minnesota educational institutions and public, private or nonprofit entities that provide employment services to low-income individuals for the purpose of training new workers and existing employees of partnering businesses. The MJSP also provides pre-development grants to assist in planning the training programs for large-scale projects for high-wage, high-growth, and high-skill occupations. In accordance with other program requirements, tribal and licensed legal cannabis businesses in partnership with an accredited Minnesota educational institution or public, private, or nonprofit entities are eligible to apply.
The Job Training Incentive Program provides grants to new or expanding businesses located in Greater Minnesota. The purpose of the program is to train new workers as quickly and efficiently as possible. Grant funds may be used for direct training costs for training provided in-house; by institutions of higher education; by federal, state, or local agencies; or private training or educational providers. In accordance with other program requirements, tribal and licensed legal cannabis businesses are eligible to apply.
The Automation Training Incentive Program provides grants to existing businesses for the purpose of training workers as quickly and efficiently as possible on new automation technology. The program is available to small businesses located in Greater Minnesota that are in the manufacturing or skilled assembly production industry and are investing in new automation technology. In accordance with other program requirements, tribal and licensed legal cannabis businesses are eligible to apply.
Tribal and licensed legal cannabis businesses in partnership with an accredited Minnesota educational institution are eligible to apply.
A Minnesota cannabis business, after receiving a license, may be eligible for the Department of Employment and Economic Development's numerous state funded programs. However, please note that most of our programs run through partner organizations – local units of government, nonprofit organizations, and accredited Minnesota higher education institutions – who may or may not choose to engage with the legal cannabis industry. As such, specific programs may not be available to licensed cannabis businesses. As agency efforts advance, we will provide information on partner organizations interested in participating when it becomes available.
For inquiries, please reach out to cannabis.deed@state.mn.us.
