Dates set for Minnesota cannabis lottery

Several Tribal Nations have already signed compacts with Minnesota and lead retail cannabis growth where the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe is hoping to become a billion dollar enterprise after completing construction of a 50,000-square-foot cultivation facility that dwarfs any non-tribal operations which are capped at 30,000 square feet. The White Earth Nation was the first of Minnesota’s eleven Nations to open an off-reservation dispensary.

Non-Native municipalities have their own rules and policies but sales aren't expected to begin until late Fall in 2025 after the winners of license lotteries are determined and no doubt the dispensaries near the border with the horrible red state of South Dakota will be the most lucrative.

The license lottery will be June 5 for cannabis cultivators, manufacturers and “mezzobusinesses” — those are essentially all-in-one operations that can grow and buy cannabis, and make and sell cannabis products. There’ll also be a June 5 lottery for cannabis retailer licenses for social equity applicants, including veterans, people who live in high-poverty areas and people historically harmed by the war on drugs. A second lottery of cannabis retailer licenses — for general applicants as well as social equity applicants not selected in the June 5 lottery — will be held in July. 

95 applicants for 50 available cannabis cultivator licenses 

80 applicants for 24 available cannabis manufacturer licenses 

267 applicants for 100 available cannabis mezzobusiness licenses 

724 applicants for 150 available cannabis retailer licenses 

Date set for lottery to determine Minnesota cannabis business licenses