Minnesota’s Office of Cannabis Management Accidentally Sends Lottery Winners Denied Licenses Email

The cannabis industry in Minnesota is getting off to a rough start after hosting their first cannabis license lottery on June 5, 2025. Just days later, all 249 cannabis business winners were sent an email on June 9, 2025, that they were denied a license (1).

MPR News reported that the state’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) said that a staff member had “sent the wrong email notification to winners of Thursday’s lotteries. The email said they did not get a license,” (1).

“The message was corrected and sent to all selected applicants within one hour,” said Jim Walker, OCM public information officer (1).

Following the mistake, the corrected email (1) “congratulated winners for securing their license and provided next steps, including completing a criminal background check.”The Minnesota cannabis lottery was held to grant licenses so that cannabis businesses could begin getting established and conduct business in the new market.

“I was shocked to see that,” said Abbey Johnson owner of two hemp businesses in Lakeville and Dundas (1). “I was like maybe I got the numbers wrong. I don’t know how I could have made that big of a mistake when I’ve been waiting two years, but I could have, you know, and I looked, and I had the right number. And so immediately started freaking out.”

Two of Johnson’s friends also received the accidental email. Upon receiving the email, Johnson contacted the OCM and received an email not long after mentioning that the email had been sent by mistake.

“They should just be better at their job or something by now,” Johnson expressed (1). “Everything’s riding on them doing their job when I have absolutely zero faith that they’re going to continue to do their job.”

When the lottery was held last week, OCM Interim Director Eric Taubel said (2), “This is an exciting day for business owners preparing to establish themselves in the state’s new adult-use cannabis market. We’re setting a strong foundation for an equitable and safe adult-use cannabis market that will mature over the next few years.”

“Today’s lottery affirms OCM’s commitment to advancing equity within the emerging cannabis market,” said Jess Jackson, OCM’s director of social equity (2). “Minnesota’s adult-use cannabis industry is for everyone who wants to add to its success, especially those most harmed by cannabis prohibition who now wish to gain access in a positive and redeeming way.”

A May 2025 press release mentioned (3), “Each application underwent a rigorous review to ensure consistency with statutory requirements and baseline standards of readiness. In reviewing applications, OCM assigned half of its reviewers to focus on the four license types limited in quantity by state statute, prioritizing those essential to building up the cannabis supply chain—cultivator, manufacturer, and mezzobusiness—followed closely by retailers.”

Cannabis lottery winners such as Johnson understands it was a mistake but mentioned to MPR News (1) that it has “real consequences on her business” as she’s waiting on her reward letter from OCM so that she can provide it to the cities that host her business locations. One of those cities has a limit where they can accept five licenses.

References

1. Ki, N. Winners in Minnesota’s first Cannabis Lottery mistakenly told their licenses were denied https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/06/09/minnesota-cannabis-lottery-winners-mistakenly-told-licenses-denied (accessed Jun 10, 2025).
2. Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management holds first lottery for cannabis business licenses across four license types https://mn.gov/ocm/media/news-releases/#/detail/appId/1/id/690573 (accessed Jun 10, 2025).
3. Colli, M. Minnesota OCM unveils Cannabis License Application Lottery dates https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/minnesota-ocm-unveils-cannabis-license-application-lottery-dates (accessed Jun 10, 2025).