Cannabis and cannabinoids in Minnesota

US - Minnesota: The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has updated the state’s medical cannabis programme by adding irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) to the list of qualifying conditions. This brings the total number of qualifying conditions in Minnesota’s medical cannabis programme to 19. However, patients certified with IBS or OCD will need to wait until 1st August before they can purchase medical cannabis from authorised dispensaries. Eligible patients can now enrol in the programme and access medical cannabis for their certified condition.

US – Minnesota: House Bill 100, due to come into effect on 1st August, legalises high-producing delta-8 and delta-9 THC derived from industrial hemp, allowing consumers access, in contrast to many other states’ stances. The law also allows the sale of gummies, edibles and drinks, including in liquor stores, which will be allowed to sell hemp-derived CBD products. Press reports that craft brewers will benefit from regulated production and sale of low-dose THC drinks, expanding the market.

US - Minnesota: Senate File 73 – the Senate version of House File 100 – has been passed by the Senate. Both bills would legalise cannabis use by over-21s, establishing a legal framework and tax structure for an adult-use market. Both have now been passed by their respective chambers and must be reconciled by the House-Senate Conference Committee before heading to the governor’s desk. Among other differences, the Senate version allows the possession of up to 5 lbs of cannabis flower at home, though only 2 lbs may be from sources other than home-grown, and sets a 10% tax rate on cannabis products. The House version sets the possession limit at 1.5 lbs, regardless of its source, and imposes a tax rate of 8%. Democratic governor Tim Walz has already pledged to sign the bill once it reaches his desk.

US - Minnesota: The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has extended the application period for licences to grow and process hemp. Since online applications have already closed, a paper application will need to be filled out and postmarked by 31st May.

US - Minnesota: House File 100 has been passed by the House and now heads to the Senate. It would make it legal for over-21s to possess up to 2 oz of cannabis in public and up to 1.5 lbs at home and cultivate up to four mature flowering plants. It would establish a legal framework and tax structure for an adult-use cannabis market that prevents youth access and provides substance abuse support; set a state gross-receipts tax of 8% and ban local taxes; establish an Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) to oversee the regulation of the production and sale of cannabis flower, cannabis products, lower-potency hemp edibles, and hemp-derived consumer products; and transfer the medical cannabis registry programme from the Department of Health to the OCM. The bill would also prohibit the OCM from approving products designed for smoking or inhaling through vapour that contain an added flavour other than cannabis, and ban local municipalities from prohibiting cannabis businesses from operating in their areas. However, “reasonable restrictions” on the time of operation and location of those businesses may be locally imposed. The Senate substitution version, Senate File 73, has also been advancing in the Senate.