On Aug. 1, many legislative changes, including those related to cannabis and hemp, went into effect. Last month, OCM sent all cannabis and hemp applicants and license holders a message with the subject Updated guidance following the 2026 legislative session, which provided an overview of these legislative changes. The office has made numerous updates to materials and webpages to reflect these changes. We recommend reviewing the message linked above and OCM's website to stay informed of any changes that may have affected your license and/or business operations. 

Until Minnesota Statutes, chapter 342 is updated directly by the Office of the Revisor of Statutes on their website later this year, you may reference Laws of Minnesota 2026, chapter  123, for all legislative changes. Additionally, a summary of 2026 legislative changes is available on OCM’s website. 

For more information, refer to our webpage on the upcoming federal hemp changes.

Many of the updates to endorsements were minor housekeeping changes. However, there were 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, lower-potency hemp extraction and concentration, and creation of artificially derived cannabinoids. 
  • Any cannabis business that was previously endorsed for extraction and concentration has been automatically converted to hold all three of these endorsements.  
  • LPHE manufacturers previously endorsed for extraction and concentration have been 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 pre-rolls has been automatically updated to hold a production of consumer products endorsement. Reminder, that you must include on your manufacturing plan the types of regulated products that you are manufacturing.  
• 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. This is not a manufacturing endorsement and is not required for manufacturers packaging product. 
  • Any business that was previously authorized for deli-style sales by OCM through their final plans of record and inspection review has been automatically converted to hold a cannabis flower packaging endorsement.  
  • 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. The cannabis flower packaging endorsement requires updates to the Quality Assurance Final Plan of Record specifically. 

OCM will host a hiring and resource fair on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, at the University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC) in North Minneapolis. This full‑day event will bring together grant recipients, community partners, business license applicants, and resource providers for a day of connection, learning, and community‑centered support. The fair will highlight grantee progress, investment impacts, local capacity‑building, workforce development opportunities, and resources available to communities preparing for participation in Minnesota’s cannabis industry. 

Details 

Date: Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026 
Location: Robert J. Jones Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC) The Plymouth Room (Room 105), 2001 Plymouth Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55411 

To attend this event, complete the registration form. Organizations interested in promoting cannabis‑related jobs or sharing resources can submit their information through the OCM Resource and Hiring Fair Interest Form. 

More details, including registration information and a full agenda, will be shared on the OCM website. 

Applicants in preliminary approval status have 18 months to convert their approval to a license. Applicants can receive a six-month initial extension to this period by submitting a request to OCM. An additional six-month extension may be granted on top of that if applicants can show they are making good faith efforts to become licensed. This allows the potential for an additional 12 months following the initial 18-month window to give businesses the necessary time to build their business, secure funding, and manage approvals.

As applicants approach the end of their 18-month preliminary approval period, OCM will send notifications regarding the extension process, requirements, and next steps. To request a six-month extension of the preliminary license approval status, applicants must email OCM at ocm.licensing@state.mn.us. 

To ensure timely processing and sufficient time to review your request, the office recommends that you submit your request for extension at least 30 days before your preliminary license approval expires. If you are not receiving emails from Accela regarding your application, check your spam folder! 

A request must be submitted to OCM to be eligible for an extension. If you do not obtain your license within 18 months of preliminary license approval and do not request an extension, your preliminary license approval will expire and OCM cannot issue you a license.  

Preliminarily approved applicants should continue to refer to the Qualified Applicant Guide for more information on how to convert their approval to full licensure.  

On Aug. 11, OCM published a Lab Bulletin 2026-06 describing how to use lab test batches that have recently been added to Metrc. These lab test batches are called Additional + [Test category] lab test batches; for example, Additional Pesticides or Additional Potency lab test batches. 

Additional lab test batches may be requested if:  

• A license holder evaluates additional risks of a contaminant being introduced to the product through the manufacturing steps and needs to add testing outside of the standard compliance testing. Based on increased risk, the required compliance testing lab test batch and the additional lab test batch may be requested. 
• A license holder requests reanalysis of a batch, and the testing facility uses the additional lab test batch to report the analyte(s). 
• A license holder requests retesting after reanalysis. They request the additional lab test batch that corresponds to the required testing. The testing facility will use the additional lab test batch to report the retested analyte(s).
• A license holder remediates product and needs to send a sample in for testing. They request the additional lab test batch that corresponds to the required testing. The testing facility uses the additional lab test batch to report the results. 

For more information, please reference Lab Bulletin 2026-06 (Use of Additional Lab Test Batches).

As we approach fall, many outdoor cultivators will begin to prepare for harvest. Even experienced cannabis cultivators may find that the logistics of a new farm, climate, strain, or harvest method are presenting unexpected challenges. We strongly encourage you to have a plan for how you will handle your harvest batches ahead of time. Many growers have indicated that they intend to have a licensed transporter take their product in a refrigerated truck immediately upon harvest, but this may not be logistically possible.  

Please be aware that any material changes to your harvest plan, including adding new buildings for drying or storing cannabis must be submitted at least ten days prior to implementation. Get your material change requests in as early as possible to avoid delays. 

Visit OCM’s Making Cannabis Business Changes page for more information about the process. 

Newly licensed/endorsed cultivators have 30 days from licensure or endorsement to add genetics into Metrc for inventory and tracking. After 30 days, a business must fill out the New Genetics (Seeds) External Transfer form to request approval from OCM to enter new genetics. Clones must be purchased from another Minnesota-licensed business and seeds from a commercial seed seller with a Minnesota seed permit.   

For more in depth guidance, review the guidance memo for cultivators obtaining approved cultivation sources.

Statewide Inventory Tracking and Management (Metrc) 

OCM has partnered with Metrc to administer Minnesota's statewide seed-to-sale inventory tracking system, which includes planting, harvesting, manufacturing, testing, transportation and retail sales. All licensed cannabis businesses must register and use this system (including software, tagging, and labeling tools). Metrc is a complex system and as more businesses come online and begin using the system, the office will work to provide helpful information for navigating the tool. 

Metrc Bulletins 

Metrc bulletins are official communications issued to license holders from Metrc to provide critical updates on system functionality, enhancements, and compliant workflow changes. They can serve as step-by-step guides, offering industry operators clarity on data entry practices and technical requirements. 

New bulletins 

• Metrc Support Bulletin 74 - New item categories for kief flower and spent cannabis biomass 
• Metrc Support Bulletin 73 - Definitions of new transfer types in Minnesota and provide an update on a new Metrc feature that allows for PDF documents to be uploaded to transfer manifests
• Metrc Support Bulletin 72 - Revised expiration date workflow in Metrc 
• Metrc Support Bulletin 71 - Revised guidance on sampling and stability study requirements 
• Metrc Support Bulletin 70 - New feature! Package pre-treatment workflow for recording and distinguishing product pre-treatment activities
• Metrc Support Bulletin 69 - Changes to available processing job categories 

More on Metrc Support Bulletin 73: Transfer type definitions and manifest enfacements

This new Metrc support bulletin provides definitions of the new transfer types that are now available in Metrc. This includes the new processing transfer type that can be used for transferring product for a service (more information can also be found in GM-2026-05. The bulletin details how to upload the required PDF form when completing a processing transfer. 

Metrc Learn 

Metrc Learn is an online training platform designed for both state and industry Metrc users. It offers a large catalog of on-demand courses that users complete at their own pace. Newly licensed business owners must complete the Minnesota New Business Fundamentals course before gaining access to Metrc. Metrc Learn offers interactive training tailored to different cannabis license types, including cultivators, manufacturers, transporters, and retailers. Completing training in Metrc Learn provides cannabis businesses with the opportunity to learn how to efficiently navigate Metrc and properly record activities in the mandatory statewide track-and-trace system.  

Minnesota Rules, part 9810.1301, subp. 6 requires that each system user must be trained and supervised by the track-and-trace system administrator. Considering adding modules from Metrc Learn as part of your employee onboarding and training process.