Latest news with #EricTaubel
CBS News
4 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Dozens of cannabis businesses get green light to open following Minnesota lottery
Dozens of lucky cannabis industry hopefuls got a big boost Thursday to open their business, two years after Minnesota legalized marijuana for recreational use. 'IT WAS EXHAUSTING' - Two years after recreational cannabis was legalized, lucky entrepreneurs can take a big step... Posted by WCCO & CBS News Minnesota on Thursday, June 5, 2025 The Office of Cannabis Management held a lottery for some of the license types with limited quantities under state law, including for retailers and cultivators. Applicants were pre-screened to join the lottery by the new state agency tasked with oversight of the new industry, and 249 were selected. Three times as many were eligible for the drawing. Eric Taubel, interim director of OCM, said those chosen will not officially get the license until they check off additional boxes, like passing a criminal background check, entering a labor peace agreement, negotiating with local governments for brick and mortar space and clearing an inspection. Still, the lotteries marked a significant step forward for a market that has not yet launched although it has been legal to smoke cannabis and grow plants at home since 2023. "We know that as soon as we finish this lottery, many of these applicants will start the hard work of getting ready to open those cannabis stores and building the cannabis market," Taubel told reporters ahead of the lottery Thursday morning. "Those applicants that win will receive information from the office next week about what their next steps are and what they need to do to accomplish it." But Taubel tempered expectations about the timeline for Minnesota to see a well-established marketplace because Minnesota's approach focused more on a craft industry with smaller businesses. So even with compacts with Tribal Nations that can already grow and sell cannabis on their reservations, supply will not initially keep up with demand and that it will also take time to scale. Growing and manufacturing can take several months. Some other license types, like wholesalers and testing facilities were not capped under state law, so a lottery was not necessary. They already found out if they received the greenlight to move forward. "The reality is that as we launch the first licenses in the coming weeks, we'll start to see new stores, new cultivators and new manufacturers shortly, but because of that deficit, it will take a while until the market reaches full maturity," he said. Nick Rahn, owner of the Warrior's Garden, a hemp-derived edibles store in St. Paul, said the long road to get to Thursday's lottery was exhausting and frustrating. But when his number was called out on the livestream, he cried tears of joy. "I don't see why it should have taken this long," he said, noting other states that have had retail sales sooner. "But today's the first step towards getting cannabis on shelves and I'm just excited. He needs to renovate his existing store to comply with regulations, among other additional steps, in order to re-open as an adult-use cannabis dispensary. But his target date is August 1 and he recognizes the supply chain challenges. "We're all kind of wondering the same thing: where are we going to get our product?" Rahn said.
Forbes
21-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Minnesota's White Earth Nation To Open Cannabis Shops Off Tribal Lands
The White Earth Band of Chippewa will be the first tribal nation in Minnesota to open cannabis dispensaries outside of tribal lands under a compact with the state government signed by Democratic Gov. Walz this week. The compact, which allows the White Earth Nation to open cannabis dispensaries throughout the state, was signed by Walz on Tuesday. Eric Taubel, interim director of the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), said the compact agreement is the first nationwide that allows native American tribal governments to license and operate cannabis dispensaries off tribal lands. Sales of recreational marijuana began at the White Earth Nation's dispensary on tribal lands in in Mahnomen, Minnesota in 2023, the same year the state legalized cannabis for adults. 'I think it's a great statement about Minnesota and Minnesota values, and the respect we have for our neighbors, whether it's a literal next-door neighbor or the nations that we share territory with,' Taubel told MPR News. 'It's an opportunity for tribes to succeed in a sort of marketplace that can drive substantial benefits to their members.' Taubel also noted that the White Earth Nation is the first tribal government to sign a cannabis compact with the state, which were authorized by Minnesota's 2023 marijuana legalization law. 'What the compact really tries to do is delineate in a sense who's doing what and where are they doing it, and then importantly, on top of that, which of the two governments is in charge of regulating those actions when they occur, either on or off tribally regulated lands,' said Taubel. The compact agreement permits the White Earth Nation to operate up to eight cannabis dispensaries outside of tribal lands. Under the agreement, the dispensaries must be regulated by tribal regulations that meet or exceed the state's cannabis rules. Zach Wilson, CEO of the White Earth Nation's cannabis enterprise, Waabigwan Mashkiki, said he expects the business to open its first dispensary off tribal lands in Moorhead in the coming week. He added that the business plans to open another dispensary in St. Cloud by the end of June and to continue opening shops throughout the state until the business reaches the limit of eight retailers specified by the compact. 'Very excited to see it come to fruition. It's just such a historical moment for not only White Earth and the tribes in the state of Minnesota, but really this is going to help set a precedent nationwide of what type of compacts can be drafted, can be negotiated and worked on throughout the country,' said Wilson. 'So very proud of the team, for Waabigwan, the White Earth Reservation RBC and tribal council. It's just a very, very humbling, exciting moment.' Taubel said that Minnesota lawmakers included participation by in the regulated cannabis industry by tribal nations in the 2023 legalization law, which authorizes the governor to negotiate compact agreements with tribal governments. 'We also set forth one of the key elements that the state sought in these compact negotiations, which is a uniformity of standards and uniformity of experience for customers and consumers in the marketplace,' said Taubel. More than half of the tribal nations in Minnesota have developed cannabis enterprises since the state legalized cannabis in 2023. Like the White Earth Nation, several tribes operate dispensaries on their respective lands, including Red Lake Nation, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Prairie Island Indian Community, Fond du Lac Band and Lower Sioux Indian Community.
CBS News
24-04-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Budding small business owners stuck in limbo amid cannabis license delays
Minnesota legalized recreational marijuana in 2023, and estimates then said that recreational marijuana would be legal by March of this year. Eric Taubel, Interim Director at the Office of Cannabis Management, said licenses will be issued in the coming weeks, thanks to recently released rules. To the dismay of small business owners, retail shop licensing continues to be delayed. Andrew Caruthers, the owner of Twin Cities High in Golden Valley, opened his shop in 2023, selling CBD and THC products. In preparation to sell marijuana, he has spent $50,000 to get ready, but now it's the waiting game to start selling. "I initially was thinking possibly six months, you know, I thought summer of last year we would be open almost for sure" said Caruthers. When he gets a license, he worries about product shortages and high costs. All marijuana sold legally in the state must be grown in Minnesota. The Office of Cannabis Management estimates 1.5 million square feet of growing area is needed. Minnesota only has 69,000 square feet available. "I am anticipating a slow rollout. Maybe we will have product for a few days, and then sell out, and we may not get more for a couple of weeks." said Caruthers, "It's like that everywhere it's become legal, the prices definitely start out."
CBS News
22-04-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Minnesota cannabis office launches grants for farmers, nonprofit organizations
The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management is launching a new program to provide funds to organizations helping farmers navigate the cannabis business. The organizations that receive the CanGrow farmer training grants will provide education, training and technical support to farmers, officials say. The CanGrow farmer loan grants will fund nonprofit organizations to assist farmers by providing low-interest loans to enter the cannabis industry. "Providing farmers the financial opportunity to take part in Minnesota's cannabis market and make strategic investments is the best way to ensure they can build equity," said OCM Interim Director Eric Taubel. "Through CanGrow, farmers who want to enter the cannabis market will receive support and tools to succeed." Grant awards for technical assistance are expected to range from $10,000 to $50,000, while loan financing is expected to range from $200,000 to $500,000, according to the cannabis management office. Taubel said that cannabis business licenses will be issued in the coming weeks.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Minnesota's retail marijuana rules sent for final approval before license rollout
The Brief The Office of Cannabis Management has submitted a final draft of rules that, if approved, will govern the retail recreational marijuana industry in Minnesota. The rules come after several rounds of community input and, once approved by a judge, will pave the way for licenses to entrepreneur applicants. To date, the roll-out process for applicants to receive a license associated with the retail cannabis industry has left some frustrated. (FOX 9) - Minnesota's Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), tasked with overseeing the state's retail industry, has announced it has submitted its final draft of rules governing legal cannabis sales. What we know The OCM says that on Tuesday it submitted its proposed rules governing legal cannabis for final approval – an act seen as the next step toward recreational cannabis dispensaries opening. Much like the licenses themselves, the process has been multi-layered and involved several rounds of public input. A first draft of the proposed rules was shared by the OCM in 2024 and sought public feedback.A final draft was then posted from Jan. 13 to Feb. 12, seeking Minnesotans' final input before they can be approved by an administrative law judge. A judge will now have 14 days to approve, deny or otherwise alter the rules. A final set of approved rules will then be published in the State Register – making them adopted, and in effect. The OCM says it can begin issuing cannabis business licenses once the rules are formally adopted. A full list of proposed rules can be found below: Click to open this PDF in a new window. Dig deeper Nearly 200 prospective business owners whose applications for uncapped license types were qualified during the license pre-approval process are in position to receive licenses shortly after rules are adopted, the OCM says. Qualified applicants in the four license types whose numbers are capped – cultivator, mezzobusiness, manufacturer, and retailer – will then take part in a series of lottery drawings for their distribution. Lotteries for each license type will be conducted later this year for both social equity applicants and general applicants, the OCM says. If not selected in the first lottery, qualified social equity applicants will have another opportunity to be entered into a second lottery along with the general applicants for remaining licenses. To date, the process for entrepreneurs to receive a license associated with the retail cannabis industry has left some frustrated. What they're saying "With the rules now in the hands of an administrative law judge for final approval, we've reached a crucial milestone. Following approval, prospective businesses will be able to complete their final steps and receive a cannabis license," said OCM Interim Director Eric Taubel, in a statement. "These rules lay the foundation to ensure Minnesotans can have confidence in a safe, well-regulated cannabis market."
