As of August 1, 2023, possession and home cultivation of cannabis for personal use under certain conditions became legal.
Now in Minnesota, adults age 21 and older may possess up to two ounces of flower, eight grams of concentrate, edible with up to 800 mg of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and two pounds of flowers in private residences (1). Home cultivation cannot exceed eight plants and no more than four of those plants can be mature at a time (1). Limited medical cannabis became legal in 2014; the law for recreational cannabis was signed in May and took effect on August 1st, 2023 (1,2).
Minnesota became the 23rd state to legalize cannabis for recreational use (2). “Nearly half of all Americans now reside in a jurisdiction where the adult use of cannabis is legal,” said Paul Armentano, Deputy Director of National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) (1). “To date, no state has moved to either curtail or repeal these legalization laws. That’s because these policies are working largely as voters and lawmakers intended and they are clearly preferable to criminal marijuana prohibition.”
In addition to legalization, tens of thousands of low-level cannabis records are eligible to be automatically expunged and over 200,000 felony records are qualified to be reviewed by the newly formed Cannabis Expungement Board (2).
A licensing system has not yet been fully established finalized in the state and the Office of Cannabis Management is still being finalized (2). Currently, the only dispensary in the state that is legally selling cannabis products is operated by the Red Lake Nation tribe, which, as a sovereign nation, is not subject to state laws (2). The business opened on August 1st and reportedly had to turn away customers and pause online sales due to high demand (3). State-licensed dispensaries are expected to start operating in 2025 (2).
About 30 business have reportedly applied for permits to be able to label cannabis seeds (2). “We haven't started accepting things for testing,” said Michael Merriman, seed program coordinator at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. “And in Minnesota, we require things to be labeled with a test that's able to substantiate those labeled claims “That's to protect the consumers of seed in the state.”
The medical cannabis program is expected to continue relatively unchanged (2).
See more recent Minnesota cannabis coverage here: Previous Minnesota Governor Decides to Open Cannabis Brand.
References
Collaboration, Gender Diversity, and Progress: Julie Kowalski on Advancing Cannabis Science
December 10th 2024In this interview with Cannabis Science and Technology, Julie Kowalski, an experienced analytical chemist, discusses her path into the cannabis industry, starting with early work in gas chromatography. Kowalski reflects on her perspectives as a female scientist, highlighting biases she’s experienced and the benefits of gender inclusivity in the cannabis space. Greater unity and professionalism could benefit the industry as a whole, she explains. She also encourages collaboration and more women in leadership positions in order to build a stronger scientific community, and also urges women to advocate for themselves, noting that women in cannabis face unique obstacles but often demonstrate consensus-building strategies and solutions.
Ep 24, Part I: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Khan
November 21st 2024Evan Friedmann interviews Yasha Khan, co-founder of MCR Labs, about his journey into the cannabis industry and his efforts to promote transparency and integrity in laboratory practices. Yasha discusses the origins of MCR Labs, which began in Massachusetts to meet the needs of the soon-to-be legal medical cannabis market. He explains the challenges faced, including result manipulation by labs and the impact on public health. Yasha's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) project aimed to gather testing data from 37 states, revealed significant discrepancies in potency and mold results. Despite some states' reluctance to share data, Yasha has made much of this data public, leading to collaborative research and publications on various aspects of cannabis testing.
Gender Diversity and Innovation in the Cannabis Space: Insights from Tess Eidem, PhD
December 9th 2024Cannabis Science and Technology sat down with Tess Eidem, PhD, PCQI, member of Saturn Scientific, LLC, to discuss her journey from antibiotic research to cannabis microbiology and her observations throughout her career. Dr. Eidem highlights challenges women face in this male-dominated industry, including limited representation in leadership roles and frequent experiences of bias and discrimination. She emphasizes the importance of gender diversity in fostering innovation, improving product safety, and addressing women’s health needs in cannabis applications. Her advice to women scientists is to build strong professional relationships and carefully evaluate work environments to advance their careers in this evolving and often challenging space.
Ep 23, Part III: Accreditation in the Cannabis Industry with Susan Audino
October 24th 2024In Part III of this episode, host Evan Friedmann is joined by Susan Audino, PhD, founder of S.A. Audino & Associates, LLC, and co-founder of Saturn Scientific, LLC, to examine the complexities of sampling in the cannabis industry, emphasizing the need for proper sampling plans, and methods.