Hello cannabis and hemp business owners, 

The Office of Cannabis Management is now accepting applications for lower-potency hemp edible (LPHE) licenses. All hemp license types are available: LPHE manufacturer, LPHE wholesaler, and LPHE retailer. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on an ongoing, rolling basis.   

If you did not apply during the October LPHE licensing window and wish to sell or manufacture LPHE products, you must apply for a license. Applicants whose license applications were denied may reapply starting today. Applicants may not manufacture, sell, or import any LPHE product until they receive a license.  

OCM is also accepting requests from existing hemp license holders to make changes to their license, including adding additional endorsements or activities, or changing site locations. Updated resources for LPHE applicants and license holders are now posted on OCM's Licensing Application Process webpage. 

Applicants who applied during the October window and have a pending hemp application have been sent an approval or denial. Please check the email account you used to submit your application.   

Reminder for pending applicants: Since the LPHE application window closed on Oct. 31, 2025, OCM has been emailing and calling LPHE applicants to continue the review process on submitted applications. If you have submitted an application for an LPHE business license, please check the email address you set up as your contact in your Accela account for communication about your application. You may have messages you need to respond to in order to have your application continue. Please also review the March 12 edition of Compliance Connector for other important information for LPHE applicants and license holders.  

Reminder for pending applicants and license holders about the close of product transition period: The product transition period has now ended.  

Review Guidance Memo 2025-03 and prepare to fully comply with Minnesota Statutes, chapter 342. Licensed hemp retailers, manufacturers, and wholesalers may sell existing products that are tested, manufactured compliant to section 151.72, and labeled with the two required universal symbols. Conducting activities without the proper license may result in enforcement actions up to and including penalties or denial of your license application.      

Reminder for pending applicants and license holders about compliant products: LPHE businesses may only manufacture, import, and sell lower-potency hemp edibles and beverages. LPHE businesses may not manufacture, import, or sell hemp products approved as hemp-derived consumer products (hemp flower and hemp vapes). Only licensed cannabis businesses with the appropriate endorsements may manufacture, import, or sell hemp products approved as hemp-derived consumer products.  

Reminder for all hemp businesses: The federal government passed legislation that will significantly impact the federal legality of hemp-derived THC products. On Nov. 12, 2025, President Trump signed the bill into law—which includes a prohibition on hemp-derived products containing more than 0.4 milligrams of THC—that becomes effective Nov. 13, 2026.  While further assessment and dialogue is ongoing, the office will continue to implement chapter 342 as charged.   

As the pending federal prohibition date nears, please be aware that this may significantly affect your business decisions – we suggest seeking legal advice. As new information is available on the impact of the new federal legislation on Minnesota, we will make it available.  

Regards,

Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management