Dear cannabis and hemp license applicants and license holders: 

We write to you today about several important items. The cannabis omnibus bill signed into law on May 26, 2026, included several changes to Minnesota Statutes, chapter 342. Until chapter 342 is updated directly on the website of the Office of the Revisor of Statutes this fall, you may reference Laws of Minnesota 2026, chapter 123, for these changes. Additionally, a summary of 2026 legislative changes is available on OCM’s website. Many of these legislative changes outlined below went into effect on Aug. 1 and may affect your license or application. 

Packaging and labeling updates and republished packaging and labeling guide 

The legislative changes clarify product labeling requirements.  

• Adult-use cannabis products are no longer required to include cultivator information because that is tracked by the seed-to-sale system. Lower-potency hemp edible (LPHE) labels may make this and other source information available via a scannable QR code.  

• Hemp-derived topical products may now contain less than 0.3% THC and if products contain THC, they must be labeled as such.  

• Hemp-derived topicals and LPHEs with only nonintoxicating cannabinoids do not require the universal symbol if they do not contain THC. 

For more information about product labeling, please refer to the updated Packaging and Labeling Guide for Cannabis and Lower-Potency Hemp Edible Products, as well as the updated LPHE Packaging and Labeling Quick Guide.

Additional updated guidance documents 

The legislative changes also impact the application process and the role of local governments, the length of preliminary approval, and the length of time an applicant can remain in qualified applicant status. The office has republished existing guidance documents to reflect the changes made to the law.   

• Qualified Applicant Guide to Obtaining a License 

• Guide for Local Governments on Adult-Use Cannabis and Lower-Potency Hemp Edible Licenses 

• From Start to License: Your Path to Cannabis Licensing in Minnesota 

Endorsements updates for license holders and applicants 

The law also includes several changes to the endorsements available to cannabis and hemp license holders.  

Understanding endorsements 

An endorsement is a specific authorization added to a license that allows a license holder to perform or provide the associated activity or product/service. For example, a microbusiness must apply for and obtain a cultivation endorsement to be able to grow cannabis under their microbusiness license; similarly, a business that is licensed to conduct adult-use retail sales must apply for and obtain a medical endorsement to also sell medical cannabis products.  

What is changing 

Many of the updates to endorsements were minor housekeeping changes that will be updated automatically in Accela, OCM’s licensing software system. License holders will not receive direct communication from OCM regarding the automatic updates made to their license and may sign in to their Accela account after Aug. 24 to verify that a re-issued license is available. 

There were also notable changes made to the law’s existing manufacturing endorsements, as well as the creation of a new cannabis flower packaging endorsement for retailers conducting deli-style sales. 

• The extraction and concentration endorsement is now split into three more specific endorsements: cannabis extraction and concentration, hemp extraction and concentration, and creation of artificially derived cannabinoids. 
  • Any cannabis business that was previously endorsed for extraction and  concentration will be automatically converted to hold all three of these endorsements. 
  • LPHE manufacturers previously endorsed for extraction and concentration will be automatically converted to hold both the lower-potency hemp extraction and concentration endorsement and the lower-potency hemp creation of artificially derived cannabinoids endorsement. 

• The production of consumer products endorsement is clarified to cover more comprehensively the various product types a manufacturer may make. 
  • Any business that was previously only manufacturing prerolls will be automatically updated to hold a production of consumer products endorsement. 

• Businesses that intend to add deli-style sales must now apply for and obtain a cannabis flower packaging endorsement before starting deli-style sales.* A business must be licensed and endorsed for retail operations to be eligible for this endorsement. 
  • Any business that was previously authorized for deli-style sales by OCM through their final plans of record and inspection review will be automatically converted to hold a cannabis flower packaging endorsement. 
  • Any currently licensed retail business that wishes to add deli-style sales into their operations is now required to apply to add the cannabis flower packaging endorsement and can follow the instructions on the Making Cannabis Business Changes webpage. The cannabis flower packaging endorsement requires updates to the Quality Assurance Final Plan of Record specifically. 
  • Guidance for deli-style sales is available in the Packaging and Labeling Guide for Cannabis and Lower-Potency Hemp Edible Products.

*Any currently licensed business that wishes to change or add an endorsement can follow the instructions on the Making Business Changes webpages.  

Overview of all manufacturing endorsements 

Cannabis manufacturing endorsements 

• Edible cannabinoid product handler endorsement: Handling, manufacturing, processing or storing of cannabis and hemp edible products that are not yet in final packaging. 

• Production of consumer products endorsement: Production of hemp-derived consumer products or cannabis products, other than edible cannabis products. Includes vapes and raw or infused flower and prerolls. 

• Cannabis extraction and concentration endorsement: Creation of cannabis concentrates (ingredients for further manufacturing). 

• Hemp extraction and concentration endorsement: Creation of hemp concentrates (ingredients for further manufacturing). 

• Creation of artificially derived cannabinoids endorsement: Creation of artificially derived cannabinoids (ingredients for further manufacturing, delta-9 THC only). 

• Medical cannabis manufacturer endorsement: Covers all product types for medical that the business is endorsed to manufacture. 

 LPHE manufacturing endorsements 

• Edible cannabinoid product handler endorsement: Handling, manufacturing, processing or storing of LPHE products that are not yet in final packaging. 

• Lower-potency hemp extraction and concentration endorsement: Creation of hemp concentrates (ingredient for further manufacturing). 

• Lower-potency hemp creation of artificially derived cannabinoids endorsement: Creation of artificially derived cannabinoids (for further manufacturing, delta-9 THC only).  

Preparations for a streamlined supply chain 

The new law also includes policy changes to streamline the medical and adult-use cannabis supply chains, which are currently bifurcated into two separate supply chains. Under the current framework, businesses can participate in both supply chains if they have the applicable endorsement and the ability to maintain distinct supply chains from seed to sale.

Under the new framework, the point of distinction between adult-use cannabis and medical cannabis moves to the point of retail sale, where a cannabis product is sold to either a medical patient or an adult-use customer. The new framework will include additional endorsement changes—particularly to the medical cannabis combination business license type, which will be converted to a macrobusiness license type—but will maintain the overall endorsement structure and medical registry program. These changes go into effect Jan. 1, 2027. 

As Jan. 1, 2027, approaches, the office will share additional information — including guidance for existing license holders impacted by the transition, and guidance for new operators who may be interested in the new medical endorsement options in a streamlined system. Operators should watch for newsletters, guidance memos, and website updates for more information. The office encourages license holders with interest in entering the medical cannabis market to plan ahead and engage with OCM and their business advisors on any questions.  

Preparations for the restructure of the cannabis event organizer license type  

Finally, the law modifies the application process for the event organizer license type. The event organizer license will become an annual, renewable license type rather than a temporary license. These changes go into effect Jan. 1, 2027. 

Organizers planning events in 2027 should review the changes to the law to prepare and watch for additional information about the application process as the effective date nears. For more information about cannabis events, businesses can review the recently republished guide to licensed cannabis events which reflects law as of Aug. 1, 2026. These guides will be updated in advance of the changes that will go into effect Jan. 1, 2027. 

• Guide to Cannabis Events and Licensing 

• On-Site Consumption Guide 

Thank you for your attention to these important changes and watch mn.gov/ocm for additional information.  

Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management

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