Lower-potency hemp edible licensing updates for local governments

Hello local government partners,   

We are reaching out to provide you all with an update on the lower-potency hemp edible (LPHE) licensing process. In order to respond to challenges facing the market, including the recent federal changes directly impacting the industry, today the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) issued an update to Guidance Memo 2025-03 and the timing for issuing licenses to hemp business applicants. The updated timeline authorizes LPHE manufacturer and LPHE wholesaler business applicants to continue to operate under Minnesota statutes, section 151.72, past January 1, 2026, until they are licensed simultaneously on or after March 31, 2026. LPHE retailer applicants will continue to be reviewed and licensed on a rolling basis, and businesses may continue to operate while pending application review as detailed in previous guidance. The office received 1,604 applications for LPHE-retailer licenses, and to date, there have been 393 LPHE retailer licenses issued.   

There are certainly complexities and difficulties in the process of navigating the transition in regulatory frameworks and the licensure of existing businesses, and the office is committed to continue communication with you all as critical partners in this work. To access information about the status of business applicants pending licensure in your jurisdiction, local governments can view a list of all licensed LPHE retailers on the Application and License Holder Data webpage. This list will be updated as LPHE retailers are receiving licenses on rolling basis over next several weeks and months. Local government can request a list of all pending LPHE retailer applications in its jurisdiction by emailing local.licensing.ocm@state.mn.us. In addition, a local government may utilize OCM’s complaint form if it is concerned that a business may not be compliant with state law and/or local ordinances.  

Retail registration for LPHE retailer license holders 

As a reminder, LPHE retailer applicants who previously registered with the office pursuant to section 151.72, subdivision 5(b)—and who remain in good standing with the state—may continue operations under an active registration until their application is approved or denied.   

Upon receiving a license, LPHE retailers must also obtain local retail registration from their local governments – this requirement is in addition to applying for and receiving a license from OCM. Once OCM issues an LPHE retailer license to a business, we will notify the local government and the local government can then issue the local retail registration.  

Please make sure to register an account in Accela in order to receive all communication regarding licensure in your municipality. If you have not done so or know of other local governments that haven’t, please complete the Local Unit of Government Cannabis Licensing Contact and Delegation Form.   

For counties that have received delegated authority for retail registration, if you are not also the assigned entity for zoning compliance in Accela for a specific business, you will not receive the automatic notification of licensure. Please ensure you are communicating directly with the entity that delegated retail registration authority to you for businesses in their jurisdiction.  

Additional resources   

Please read more about the Product Transition Period / Office of Cannabis Management.