Media Advisory
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Contact: Jim Walker
(651) 539-5082
jim.walker@state.mn.us
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June 03, 2025
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Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management to hold cannabis license application lotteries Thursday, June 5
Interim director to offer virtual remarks and take questions
from media ahead of lotteries
St. Paul, Minn. – On Thursday, June 5, the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) will hold license application lotteries for social equity and general applicants for three license types critical to establishing the supply chain in the state’s emerging adult-use cannabis market: cultivator, manufacturer, and mezzobusiness. OCM will also hold a lottery for social equity applicants (SEAs) applying for a cannabis retailer license, preserving some of the advantages to SEAs envisioned by the Legislature in the 2023 cannabis bill.
The lotteries will be livestreamed for applicants, media and members of the public to view via the office’s YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@MNCannabisManagement. There is not an in-person option for viewing the lottery. The license application lotteries will be conducted using procedures and controls similar to those held in other states. OCM has engaged Smartplay International, Inc., a recognized leader in digital lottery drawing systems, and Baker Tilly, an advisory tax and assurance firm, to conduct Thursday’s lotteries. Both vendors have conducted cannabis license lotteries in other states.
Applicants in contention for selection in the lotteries will watch for their license application number to be drawn. OCM will post selected application numbers to its website and will communicate directly with applicants about their selection. Please note that the names and addresses of selected businesses will not be posted on the day of the lottery.
At 10 a.m., in advance of the lotteries, Interim Director Eric Taubel will offer virtual remarks and answer questions from the media about the lottery process and the launch of Minnesota’s adult-use cannabis market. Instructions for requesting access to the media availability are below.
WHO: Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management, Interim Director Eric Taubel
WHAT: Cannabis License Application Lottery
WHEN: Thursday, June 5
10 a.m. – Virtual media availability (RSVP instructions below)
11 a.m. – SEA lotteries: cultivator, manufacturer, mezzobusiness, retailer
2 p.m. – General applicant lotteries: cultivator, manufacturer, mezzobusiness
Members of the press who would like to participate in the media availability with Interim Director Eric Taubel should RSVP by emailing jim.walker@state.mn.us for a link. OCM will issue and post its press release for reporters at 9 a.m. in advance of the remarks so that media can prepare for the availability.
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