Legal, adult use of cannabis came into effect in Minnesota on 1 August, 2023, making Minnesota the 23rd state to legalise the recreational use of the plant.
This week, on August 16, Minesotta’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) hosted a virtual information session for stakeholders with interest in the activities.
The session provided a general overview of the early work to establish OCM including selecting a leader for the orgainsation, along with establishing regulation for hemp-derived cannabinoid products and information about upcoming OCM rulemaking.
The OCM will begin rulemaking in areas such as product labeling and packaging, business licensing, plant cultivation, product testing, pesticide and fertilizer use, energy and water usage and cannabis product disposal.
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However, due to the nature of implementing such rules, the OCM has stated that the rulemaking process may continue into 2025.
According to Marijuana Moment, at the meeting, Charlene Briner, OCM’s implementation director, stated: “This is really a unique opportunity for us to assess the business needs, to evaluate the authorities that the legislature and the governor have given to the Office of Cannabis Management and then to meet those business needs in a way that really helps us ensure the success of the cannabis industry in Minnesota.”
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has also opened registration for businesses currently selling hemp-derived cannabinoid products in Minnesota with a deadline to register on October 1.
