When will dispensaries open in Minnesota?

Minnesota recreational cannabis was legalized in 2023, yet many within the industry, as well as consumers, are in the dark on where the adult-use market stands, while the medical market continues to evolve. Common questions: “When will dispensaries open in Minnesota?” “What is the latest information about recreational cannabis laws in Minnesota?” “Are business license applications being accepted?” Below is the latest info for the Land of Sky Blue Waters.

When Will Recreational Dispensaries Open in Minnesota?

Beyond dispensaries owned by Indigenous tribes, state lawmaker and recreational marijuana business consultant Stefan Egan noted to 5 Eyewitness News recently that the best-case scenario on when will recreational dispensaries open in Minnesota is likely late spring or possibly early summer 2026.

“It’s a big mess. Bigger than people realize,” said Egan.

The Office of Cannabis Management, through a spokesperson, said there are no definitive deadlines or target dates for opening dispensaries, but they are encouraged by the more than one thousand qualifying applicants, and the agency is ready to get started as soon as the legislature passes the rules to govern the program.

Where Can You Buy Recreational Cannabis in Minnesota Now?

The current recreational cannabis Minnesota market lies with Indigenous tribes. The White Earth Band of Chippewa has expanded its Waabigwan Mashkiki locations to now include Mahnomen, Moorhead and St. Cloud. The latter two sites are the state’s first off-reservation dispensaries. Other Minnesota recreational cannabis availability can be found at White Earth, Red Lake, and Red Lake Band of Ojibwe. The Prairie Island Indian Community, a Mdewakanton Sioux Indian Reservation near Red Wing, also opened a store in June.

Minnesota’s Recreational Cannabis Rules Are Moving Forward

As previously mentioned, part of the hold-up for recreational cannabis Minnesota is the lack of official rules for the market. This issue moved partially toward remediation recently, when a judge approved the drafted rules without alterations. The rules will “go into effect later this month,” and will permit the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) to begin issuing licenses to those applicants who have completed the application process and received approval.

“The adoption of rules is the most significant step to launching the cannabis market because the office cannot issue business licenses until they are [in] place,” Eric Taubel, the OCM’s interim director, said in a statement. “The judge’s approval of our proposed rules without changes shows that we did our work to engage with the prospective cannabis business community and put together a reasonable structure for ensuring consistency, safety and equity in Minnesota’s cannabis industry.”

As it stands, the rules do not include a requirement that beverages with no more than 10 milligrams of THC be labeled as two servings. They do include a testing facility variance, as well as a requirement to ensure telehealth is accessible for medical cannabis patients, to strengthen protections for medical cannabis patients, to streamline the hemp licensing process, and to make technical changes to provide more clarity, said Taubel.

Minnesota Cannabis and Drug Policy Resource Center officials support many of the provisions in the bill, but are asking legislators to make more changes, including connecting patients’ dosing plans to their registry profile, extending civil and criminal protections to visiting patients, and clarifying that health care facilities must accommodate all forms of legal cannabis.

What’s Going on With Business Licenses?

Regarding business licenses, a District Court judge has ordered Minnesota regulators to hold a lottery to issue business licenses to qualified social equity applicants. Ramsey County District Court Judge Stephen Smith ruled that social equity applicants for adult-use marijuana licenses suffered a “public wrong” and the OCM had a legal obligation to conduct the lottery. Smith had halted the lottery in November after some applicants who had been denied access filed a lawsuit claiming the process lacked clear criteria and didn’t allow for appeals.

In a statement, the OCM responded: “With the adoption of the rules governing Minnesota’s cannabis industry imminent, OCM expects to be able to begin issuing licenses to qualified social equity applicants in a matter of weeks,” the agency’s statement said. In all, regulators received 3,529 applications for one of 10 adult-use license types as of March 24, according to state data.

When will Minnesota dispensaries open everywhere? No one is really sure yet. But Indigenous tribe dispensaries are open for business now.

Join Us in Minnesota at CannaCon!

Did you know CannaCon will be in St. Paul, MN this summer? CannaCon, the nation’s leading business-to-business cannabis conference, is happening Aug. 9-10 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre! We’re growing the cannabis industry by educating cannabis business owners on all things related to the plant. Register to attend CannaCon St. Paul today!