Attend CannaCon Midwest in St. Paul Minnesota, Aug. 16-17

August is the best time of year to be in Minnesota. With beautiful skies, sunny weather and cool night breezes, the city of St. Paul blooms with people visiting and activities abound. It is also the perfect time to attend MN cannabis events, such as CannaCon, the best cannabis convention in Minnesota! The market is unique here and the topic of many discussions across the U.S. Read more to see what Minnesota cannabis events have to offer the industry.

Progress for Minnesota Cannabis

Monday, June 24, 2024 marked the beginning of the verification process for social equity cannabis license applicants. This is the initial step toward obtaining a recreational license. Social equity applicants must fit into one of the following categories: 

• Formerly convicted of possession or selling cannabis 
• Living in areas with high poverty levels
• Veterans
• New farmers

General public license applications will open sometime in 2025.

Once social equity status is verified by the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), Minnesota entrepreneurs can apply for business licenses right away, as the application window opened on July 24. In order to apply for the license, several requirements are in place, including: 

• Operating plans 
• Employee training protocols
• Security 
• Industry experience 

The portal to apply for a license pre-approval will close August 12. OCM will then notify selected applicants.

Next, license winners will be selected through a random lottery later this year. “We’re going to have a comprehensive process and review teams looking to make sure that the license is complete — that all of the attachments, all of the additional requirements that need to be submitted that were specified in law, that all of those had been met and that everything is in order,” Interim Director of the OCM Charlene Briner said in an interview recently. “So this is not something that’s just a random lottery. This is really gauging among prepared, qualified applicants.”

Next Steps for Minnesota Cannabis Businesses

Cultivators, microbusinesses and mezzobusinesses (meaning this licensee can run up to three retail locations) will receive first-to-market advantage and could start growing marijuana this fall. Awarded licenses will be capped at the following limits, per state law:

• Cultivator: 13
• Delivery: 10
• Manufacturer: 6
• Mezzobusiness: 25
• Microbusiness: 100
• Retailer: 38
• Testing lab: 50
• Transporter: 20
• Wholesaler: 20

Minnesota regulators plan to launch recreational marijuana sales early 2025, which will be the first opportunity those with pre-approved licenses will have to sell flower and other products. 

“We want to make sure that we’re getting at least a number of months’ headstart for the product to be grown, to be cultivated and to be processed so that there is actually product on retail shelves when they are authorized to open,” Briner explained. 

Are you a potential social equity applicant? Learn more about the industry at CannaCon, the best cannabis conference Minnesota has had to date! Minnesota cannabis events like CannaCon are an important way for cannabis entrepreneurs to connect and learn more about the regulations that drive this industry. 

Learn More at MN Cannabis Events

Excitement in the industry is stirring up around the beverage regulation change that is going into effect. As of July 1, hemp-derived, THC-infused beverages on tap are permitted. Previously, hemp-derived THC drinks could only be sold in cans but now, companies that display the necessary information typically shown on product labels can offer these drinks on tap. 

These drinks’ availability has greatly expanded cannabis events Minnesota, especially as the wait for dispensaries will continue at the very least until the end of 2024. Cannabis drinks can be found in Minnesota liquor stores, craft breweries and high-end restaurants as well as hair salons and at least one rock club. 

“I can’t tell you the number of brewery owners who have told me, ‘But for this product, we would have gone out of business,’” said Democratic state Rep. Zack Stephenson, noting that many breweries were reeling financially from the pandemic. “The timing was serendipitous. The product became available just at the time that it was needed.”

Don’t Miss CannaCon, the Greatest Cannabis Convention in Minnesota!

Interested in seeing this market in action? Attend the best cannabis convention in Minnesota, CannaConn Midwest! CannaCon is happening in St. Paul on August 16 and 17, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. 

Meet vendors, make important connections and attend beneficial seminars such as compliance, best website practices and branding. Specific seminar topics include “Increasing Profitability Through Post-Harvest Control,” “High-Efficiency Extraction: Learn How MN Power Companies Can Fund Your Lab,” and more! View the full CannaCon Midwest St. Paul seminar schedule here. 

Expected vendors and exhibitors at this cannabis expo MN include Advanced Extraction Labs, Grove Bags, US Cannabis Insurance, Retro Bakery, USA Lab, PLS, an Authorized Partner for Zebra Technologies, ELO Touch, HP Retail & Star Micronics and many others! Come for the cannabis convention MN, improve your business and don’t forget to try a Juicy Lucy, gravlax, Walleye fingers, Hmong sausage or some wild rice sorbet!