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Minnesota House Greenlights Omnibus Cannabis Policy Bill
St. Paul, MN - The Minnesota House of Representatives swiftly approved the omnibus cannabis policy bill (HF1615/SF2370*) on Monday, May 5, 2025, with minimal debate. The legislation, sponsored by Representative Zack Stephenson (DFL-Coon Rapids) and collaborated on by Representative Nolan West (R-Blaine), primarily introduces technical adjustments to the state's recently enacted cannabis laws as the adult-use program prepares for full implementation. The House passed the bill with an 82-50 vote after adopting a "delete-all" amendment to incorporate the House's version of the language. The bill now returns to the Senate for concurrence, and a conference committee is anticipated to reconcile any differences between the House and Senate versions.
Representative West emphasized the importance of the bill for a smooth rollout of the cannabis program, stating, "This bill contains some provisions that are important for ensuring a smooth rollout."
Key Provisions of the Omnibus Cannabis Policy Bill:
- THC Beverage Labeling: The bill seeks to eliminate the current requirement that beverages containing no more than 10 milligrams of THC be labeled as two servings. This change aims to align Minnesota regulations with other states and allow for broader product availability. Glenn McElfresh, co-founder of Plift, noted that the existing rule had deterred some companies from launching products in Minnesota.
- Lower-Potency Hemp Wholesaler License: The legislation proposes the creation of a new license specifically for wholesalers of lower-potency hemp products. This aims to streamline the licensing process for businesses dealing with these products.
- Visiting Medical Cannabis Patients: The bill would grant visiting medical cannabis patients the same rights and access as registered medical cannabis patients within Minnesota. This provision seeks to ensure that individuals authorized to use medical cannabis in other states can continue their treatment while in Minnesota.
- Medical Cannabis Combination Businesses: An amendment successfully added to the bill allows medical cannabis combination businesses to sell to other cannabis businesses and to deliver medical cannabis directly to patients, potentially improving patient access.
- Advertising Restrictions: Another successful amendment places limits on the advertisement of consuming alcohol and cannabis together, addressing concerns about potential public health implications.
Opposition to the Bill:
Representative Bidal Duran (R-Bemidji), who works in law enforcement, voiced his opposition to the bill. He argued that marijuana is a Schedule I drug with no therapeutic value and expressed concerns about the potential negative impacts on children and the community. "When we look at marijuana and what it's doing to our children and what it's doing to our community here, we need to be very, very careful in what we do," 1 he stated. "We, in the state of Minnesota, make legislation hopefully that is going to benefit us, not rip us down, so marijuana is not going to benefit our community." 2
Next Steps:
With the House approval, the bill now heads back to the Senate. Given that the House amended the Senate's version (SF2370), the Senate will need to either concur with the House amendments or request a conference committee. In a conference committee, members from both the House and Senate would meet to negotiate a compromise version of the bill that can pass both chambers.
Background on Minnesota's Cannabis Legalization:
Minnesota legalized adult-use cannabis on August 1, 2023. The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) has been working on establishing the regulatory framework for the new industry. The licensing application process for various cannabis businesses, including microbusinesses, cultivators, manufacturers, and retailers, took place earlier this year. The OCM has announced that the lottery for capped licenses (mezzobusiness, cultivator, manufacturer, and retailer) will be held on June 5, 2025. Licenses for uncapped categories (microbusiness, wholesaler, transporter, testing facility, delivery service, and medical cannabis combination business) are being reviewed on a rolling basis. The final rules governing the adult-use cannabis market were formally adopted and went into effect on April 14, 2025. Retail sales for adult-use cannabis are anticipated to begin in the first quarter of 2025.
This omnibus bill represents a significant step in refining the state's cannabis laws as the legal market takes shape. The outcome of the Senate's review and any subsequent conference committee negotiations will be crucial in determining the final form of these important policy adjustments.
