For Immediate Release
Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management now accepting applications for lower-potency hemp edible retailer, manufacturer, and wholesaler business licenses
St. Paul, Minn. – Today, the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) resumed accepting business license applications for the three lower-potency hemp edible (LPHE) license types: LPHE retailers, LPHE manufacturers, and LPHE wholesalers.
OCM has processed more than 2,200 license applications from businesses that applied last October to manufacture and sell the popular products, which include hemp-derived THC beverages and gummies. Business owners who wish to apply, reapply, or make changes to existing licenses may do so, beginning today. OCM will review applications and issue licenses on an ongoing, rolling basis.
“We now have more than 1,500 licensed hemp-derived THC businesses in Minnesota, and we’re taking steps to ensure they can continue to prosper and participate in the marketplace selling products that consumers want,” said OCM Executive Director Eric Taubel. “Having hemp and cannabis businesses licensed and operating under the same statute is crucial to our work of fostering an equitable cannabis industry that prioritizes public health and safety, consumer confidence, and market integrity.”
Today also marks the end of the product transition period that offered additional time for manufacturers and wholesalers of hemp-derived products to prepare for the change from operating under the previous product regulations contained in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 151, to the new licensing framework established in chapter 342, the state’s new cannabis and hemp law. Once licensed by OCM, businesses must now adhere to the requirements of chapter 342, which include product testing, labeling, and local registration requirements. LPHE license holders should review Guidance Memo 2025-03 as well as the resources available on OCM’s website for more information about the transition to licensure.
The reopening for LPHE applications comes a week after Governor Tim Walz signed a bipartisan bill into law allowing hemp-derived THC products to be tested by labs outside of the state through May of next year, as long as those labs meet criteria established by OCM. The change in law gives hemp businesses more time to move product testing to a growing number of Minnesota-licensed testing facilities and frees up in-state lab capacity, reducing delays for in-demand cannabis product testing.
“As Minnesota’s cannabis and hemp markets continue to take shape, we expect substantial growth in the coming months as additional businesses receive licenses and start operations,” continued Taubel. “It is an exciting time, but we also know that decisions at the federal level will potentially have significant impacts on Minnesota businesses.”
The long-term federal legality of hemp-derived THC beverages and edibles has been in question since last November, after President Trump signed a spending bill into law containing a provision banning hemp-derived products containing more than 0.4 mg of THC beginning in November 2026. As new information is available on the impact of federal legislation on Minnesota’s hemp market, OCM will make it available to impacted businesses. The office will continue to offer support to business owners and provide guidance as they make decisions in light of the federal changes.
Updated resources for LPHE license applicants are available on OCM’s Licensing webpage.
For more information, visit mn.gov/ocm.
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