Latest news with #MinnesotaOfficeofCannabisManagement
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
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
East Grand Forks sets local cannabis business registration, renewal fees
Apr. 2—EAST GRAND FORKS — The East Grand Forks approved the city's local cannabis business fees during its meeting Tuesday night. Even though cannabis has been legal in the state since 2023, the process of setting up registration, rules and the establishment Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management has been slow. The OCM only recently published its registration fee schedule for what it will charge the 13 different types of cannabis businesses allowed in Minnesota. With that, the city can then set its local fee schedule. "We're getting a lot of questions on when we're going to open our registration process after these fees are formally set," East Grand Forks City Administrator Reid Huttunen told the Herald. "There's still no defined timeline for when the state is going to start issuing those." The City Council set the fees at the maximum allowed for cities. Most businesses will pay between $250 and $500 for an initial registration fee. Microbusinesses, growing up to 5,000 square feet of plant canopy indoors, do not have an initial registration fee and low-potency hemp edible retailers pay $125 per location. Most businesses also pay a $1,000 renewal fee, but those with lower costs for an initial license will have local renewal fees between $125 and $500. The OCM sent its proposed rules to an administrative law judge for approval last week. If the judge accepts those rules, a first batch of social equity applicants who passed a review in fall 2024 would be among the first non-tribal businesses to operate. Licenses could begin to be issued as soon as the end of April. A moratorium on cannabis businesses within city limits expired at the end of 2024. However, the city hasn't been notified by the OCM about any new business license holders coming into the city. While the city has gotten more information in the past six months from the OCM about local rules the city has expressed frustration with the lack of communication and the lack of local control. "They never officially sent (the local government guide). It just was all of a sudden on their website," Huttunen told the Herald in November 2024. "I had been doing periodic check-ins to see what was going on so I could have my group planning meetings with our staff and then one day, 'by the way, here's your local government guide.' " In other news, the council: * Approved buying a playground for the Griggs Park Trailhead. The cost of construction is around $82,600 to be funded with a mix of donations, funds from the American Crystal Sugar pollution fine and Altru Partnership Funds. * Approved a special event permit for the East Grand Forks High School prom. The approval allows for the closure of the restaurant row parking lot on May 3 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Olmsted County plans hearing on age-compliance checks for low-dose hemp edible retailers
Mar. 30—ROCHESTER — Olmsted County's future oversight of lower-potency hemp edible retailers could come with a few added restrictions. "There is a base level that we have to do for low-potency hemp products. ...We are also proposing some optional provisions to strengthen overall protections around this," said Sagar Chowdhury, Olmsted County Public Health associate director. Olmsted County commissioners will hold a public hearing at 11 a.m. Tuesday in board chambers of the city-county Government Center, 151 Fourth St. SE. Following the hearing, they will be asked to adopt the proposed changes to the county's ordinance regulating cannabis-derived products. State agencies have monitored age-compliance checks since sales started in 2022, but local entities are expected to take on that role later this year. Under the anticipated changes, the state will continue product-related compliance checks, ensuring they are made from plants with less than 0.3% levels of THC, the compound found in help and cannabis that deliver intoxicating effects. For Olmsted County Public Health, which already conducts similar tobacco-related checks, it will mean oversight of all businesses registered to sell the low-dose products outside of Byron and Pine Island, where city officials opted to maintain oversight responsibilities. While the key role is to make sure businesses are checking IDs with sales, county staff is proposing penalties for retailers found to sell edibles and beverages containing hemp products to anyone younger than 21. The penalty would mirror those faced by Olmsted County tobacco retailers. The first offense would come with a $300 fine, which would increase to $600 for the second offense within 36 months. A third offense in the same period would spur a $1,000 fine, as well as a seven-day suspension of the ability to sell low-dose products. Any offenses after three would yield another $1,000 fine, but the suspension would increase to 30 days for each violation. Community health specialist Pa Houa Moua said the suspensions are key to ensuring retailers take the restrictions seriously. "When only fees are applied, they see it as a cost of doing business," she said. The proposed ordinance changes will also reinforce the county's smoking ban in retail establishments, as well as provide limits to the consumption of lower-potency hemp edible products on the premises of a business that sells them. Under the proposed ordinance, the edibles will only be allowed to be consumed on site if they are purchased at the business, and the buyer is at least 21 years old. Additionally, retailers cannot sell to obviously impaired consumers If the ordinance changes are adopted, the county oversight is expected to start after the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management finalizes new guidelines for businesses selling low-dose hemp products. Meetings scheduled to be held during the week of March 31 include: Rochester —Park Board, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in room 104 in City Hall, 201 Fourth St. SE. —Heritage Preservation Commission, 5 p.m. Wednesday in council chambers of the city-county Government Center, 151 Fourth St. SE. Olmsted County —Physical Development Committee, 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in conference room 2 of the Government Center. —Board of County Commissioners, 11 a.m. Tuesday in the board chambers of the Government Center. —Administrative Committee, 1 p.m. Tuesday in conference room 1 of the Government Center. —Parks Commission, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Public Works conference room at 1188 50th St. SE.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Olmsted County gearing up for new oversight role for low-dose hemp products
Mar. 15—ROCHESTER — Olmsted County Public Health is preparing for increased local oversight of low-dose hemp edibles as the state continues to prepare for the retail rollout of their higher potency cousins. "We're looking to get ahead of some changes that are going to happen at the state level," said Sagar Chowdhury, Public Health associate director. With the state's March 14 application deadline for cannabis licenses passed, the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management is working on new guidelines for businesses selling low-dose hemp products Chowdhury said that's at least 119 Olmsted County businesses, from those defined by the sale of THC-infused edible products and beverages to those adding products alongside existing offerings. The state has monitored age-compliance checks since sales started in 2022, but local entities are expected to take on that role later this year. For Olmsted County Public Health, which already conducts similar tobacco-related checks, it will mean oversight of all businesses registered to sell the low-dose products outside of Byron and Pine Island, where city officials opted to maintain oversight responsibilities. The state will continue product-related compliance checks, ensuring they are made from plants with less than 0.3% levels of THC, the compound found in help and cannabis that deliver intoxicating effects. Travis Cullen, owner of Laughing Waters THC Glass & Smoke Shop, said it makes sense to shift the age-verification oversight to local authorities as the state office works to approve cannabis licenses for businesses like his. "It sort of shares the workload," he said. With the new county oversight, a proposed ordinance defining expectations is tentatively set for a April 1 public hearing and review In addition to outlining state requirements, county commissioners have voiced early support for reinforcing a smoking ban in businesses that sell low-dose hemp products, setting parameters for on-site consumption and crafting penalties for businesses failing to comply with age checks. Cullen and others said the added requirements appear to be reasonable, noting the state's clean air act already limits smoking options and age verification is an important aspect of the business. "That's not how you should be running a business," said Shelly Buchanan, owner of Hempire Hemp and Vape Shoppe. The proposed county-level penalties for selling to someone under 21 during verification checks would be $300 and $600 for the first and second infractions within a three-year period. Additional violations in the same period would increase fines to $1,000 and suspend a business' ability to sell the products — for seven days after the fourth violation and 30 days after additional violations. Abe Sauer, owner of Old Abe & Co., has been selling low-dose beverages and gummies from his coffee shop since they were allowed, and said he believes the county is taking the right approach with potential penalties. "A first-time penalty should not be too extreme. ... Any bar or anyplace could be caught in a one-off," he said, noting one underage sale shouldn't mark a business if it's an honest error. A trend of violations, however, are a different matter, he said. "Suspensions are going to do a lot more than a dollar fine," he said of sending a message to repeat offenders. While the county commissioners have directed county staff to include some requirements in the new ordinance regarding low-dose hemp product sales, they also rejected several suggestions made by Public Health staff. The rejected requirements include requiring child-resistant packaging of products, banning the sale of edibles or beverages without their original packaging, requiring beverages to be moved behind a service counter, requiring clerks making sales to be 21 or older and banning the use of free samples and coupons. In many cases, commissioners compared the proposed restrictions to those faced by liquor stores and retailers selling tobacco, saying they didn't want to set up unfair obstacles. "We are not looking at alcohol as a really bad substance, although we have evidence that alcohol is related to more bad family violence than what we are talking about right here," Commissioner Gregg Wright said in response to whether a hemp-infused beverage could be sold from a keg, rather than in a can. Community Health Specialist Abby Tricker said the proposed requirement was intended to make sure customers know what they are receiving, since hemp-infused products can offer varying levels of potency. "It's important for the consumer to know how much content they are getting out of the beverage and how many servings they are consuming," she said. Retailers agreed customers must be aware of what they are consuming, but also said low-dose hemp products are different from liquor and tobacco, and require their own regulations. Cullen said he'd support a ban on free samples, even though they are allowed in liquor stores. "You don't want to get mind-altering substances away for free at a business," he said. "It's just not a good policy." Additionally, he and Buchanan said they could support requiring clerks be 21 to sell low-dose edibles "If they're not of age to consume it then, to me, it doesn't make sense that I would even have them in my store," Buchanan said. Commissioners, however said, the age requirement could be an obstacle for retailers selling products alongside those that can be purchased by younger customers. "You can't ask a business to hire two people to work a counter," Commissioner Mark Thein said. While Public Health staff raised concerns about potential peer pressure facing younger clerks, Commissioner Dave Senjem said the argument fell a bit flat. "It bothers me, because it says you can't trust an 18-year-old," he said. Sauer said he appreciates a measured approach is being taken toward a product that has seen a variety of state-level oversight changes since 2022. "You don't have to get it perfect out of the gate, you can go back and amend," he said.
CBS News
10-02-2025
- Business
- CBS News
New program to help Minnesota communities impacted by cannabis prohibition
MINNEAPOLIS – The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management announced Monday the launch of a $1 million program to help communities who's economic and social landscapes were negatively impacted under cannabis prohibition policies. The CanRenew program was established by the Minnesota Legislature in the 2023 cannabis bill. It aims to help projects addressing multiple needs including economic development, public health, violence, youth development and civil legal aid. According to the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management, the grants will be awarded to eligible organizations for investments in communities where long-term residents are eligible to be social equity applicants. The grant funds are not intended to support cannabis business operations. "This grant program is a significant step toward the OCM's aim to establish an inclusive and equitable cannabis ecosystem that creates possibilities for marginalized groups and those affected by the war on drugs," said Eric Taubel, OCM interim director. Grant awards for the first round of funding will range from $50,000 to $200,000 per project. Organizations eligible to receive grants include nonprofit organizations, Tribal organizations, educational institutions, units of local government, private businesses, community groups, and partnerships between different types of organizations. Organizations interested in CanRenew grants must submit a written application to the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management. Selected grantees/awardees will be announced in spring of 2025. "Launching these grant programs is another milestone in fulfilling the social equity commitments established in Minnesota's cannabis law," said Jess Jackson, OCM's director of social equity. CanRenew grants will have a one-year grant period, with a start date of approximately June 30, 2025.
