Updated August 2023

On May 29, 2014, Governor Mark Dayton signed a bill legalizing medical marijuana (medical cannabis) in the State of Minnesota. The law creates a registry program for the oversight of the production and distribution of medical cannabis and outlines specific duties and protections afforded patients, health care practitioners, and manufacturer-distributors of medical cannabis. You can access the full text of the new law here.

Incidentally, the law also creates a huge opportunity for the medical marijuana industry, especially as relates to the business of medical cannabis manufacture and distribution. The following is a series of articles designed to answer some general business questions regarding medical marijuana in Minnesota.

Table of Contents

Medical Cannabis Information for Patients

Learn about how to become a patient, qualifying medical conditions, where to get medicine, and more!

How to Become a Medical Cannabis Patient

Since 2015, Minnesota’s Medical Cannabis Program has provided a treatment option for people who are facing debilitating medical conditions, helping to improve their quality of life. This page provides information on how to become a patient in the program.

To be eligible to participate, a patient must be a Minnesota resident and be certified for at least one of the qualifying medical conditions.
On this page

Watch Mike’s Story to learn about this patient’s journey with medical cannabis.

Step 1: Getting certified for your medical condition

patient health care icon

Before you can participate in the program, you must get your medical condition certified online in the Medical Cannabis Registry by a Minnesota-licensed physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse.

Tips for finding a participating health care practitioner:

  • Ask your medical team or advocacy groups that represent your medical condition.
  • Search on the internet, including the websites for Minnesota’s medical cannabis manufacturers.

NOTE: OMC does not maintain or share a list of health care practitioners who are participating in the program.

BEFORE going to your appointment with your health care practitioner, consider setting up a new personal (non-employer-based) email account, if you do not already have one. The Office of Medical Cannabis will use this email address to send you updates and information, including your enrollment/application link.

DURING your visit, give your email address to your health care practitioner. Ask for an appointment summary and a list of your current medications. Take this to your initial visit to your Medical Cannabis Dispensary.

AFTER your health care practitioner certifies your condition, you will receive an email from the Office of Medical Cannabis that contains:

  • Confirmation of your condition being certified by your health care practitioner.
  • Your unique online enrollment link for the Medical Cannabis Registry.
NOTE: Your certification will expire if your enrollment application is not submitted and approved by the Office of Medical Cannabis within 90 days. To help ensure that your enrollment is approved before then, please complete your enrollment application within the first 60 days of certification. Your enrollment application may take up to 30 days to process after you submit a completed application.

Step 2: How to enroll

registration icon

Once you receive your certification email, you are now ready to enroll! Follow the link in the email to enroll (check your spam or junk folder in case you do not see the email in your regular inbox).

If you need help managing your Medical Cannabis Registry account or picking up your medical cannabis, you can add a caregiver, parent/legal guardian, or spouse to your account at this time.

Learn more about the Caregiver Enrollment Process (PDF).

BEFORE you start your online enrollment, gather your:

  • Government-issued photo ID, driver’s license, or passport.
If your ID does not show your current address, please check here for additional information we need from you.
  • Digital camera or mobile phone to capture an image of your ID.
  • Parent/legal guardian or spouse ID and birth certificate/marriage certificate, if applicable. Unless a patient is a minor, adding a parent/legal guardian or spouse is optional.
For more information about enrolling, see How to Register in the Medical Cannabis Program (PDF).

NOTE: The annual enrollment fee was eliminated effective July 1, 2023. Due to state regulations, OMC cannot refund enrollment fees paid before that date.

Your completed enrollment application will be reviewed by the Office of Medical Cannabis staff. This may take up to 30 days, and you will receive an email as soon as your application has been processed. Office of Medical Cannabis staff may contact you by email if we need additional information.

NOTE: Patients registered in Minnesota’s Medical Cannabis Program must re-enroll on a yearly basis if they want to continue participating in the program. For more details, see How to Re-Enroll in the Medical Cannabis Program.

Step 3: Purchasing your medical cannabis

dispensary icon

Once your enrollment is approved, you can access your Medical Cannabis Registry account and pick up medical cannabis at your nearest Medical Cannabis Dispensary. See Medical Cannabis Dispensary Locations.

For more information about managing your Medical Cannabis Registry account, see Managing Your Medical Cannabis Registry Account (PDF).

BEFORE you go to your Medical Cannabis Dispensary:

  • Complete and submit the Patient Self-Evaluation online (available in your Medical Cannabis Registry account). NOTE: A registered caregiver can complete the Patient Self-Evaluation for you. You must complete a new Patient Self-Evaluation every time you purchase medical cannabis.
  • Schedule your appointment.

NOTE: The Office of Medical Cannabis does not approve the Patient Self-Evaluation or dispense medical cannabis. Medical Cannabis Dispensary staff will approve your Patient Self-Evaluation prior to or at the time of pick up.

A pharmacist at the Medical Cannabis Dispensary will review your account and recommend a medication.

What to bring:

  • Your government-issued photo ID (your caregiver must bring theirs when picking up medicine).
  • A list of your prescribed medications (for initial appointment or if your medications change).
  • The visit summary from your health care practitioner who certified your condition (for an initial appointment).
  • Payment for your medicine. Payment options vary by location. NOTE: Insurance companies do not cover the cost of medical cannabis.

How to Re-enroll in the Medical Cannabis Program

Patients registered in Minnesota’s Medical Cannabis Program must re-enroll on a yearly basis if they want to continue participating in the program.

If your account expires, you will no longer be enrolled in the program and will not be allowed to pick up medical cannabis. To help you get ready to re-enroll, we will send you reminder emails 60 days and 30 days before your enrollment expires. You can also check your Registry account to see when your enrollment expires.

What you need to do to re-enroll

practitioner with patient

  • Have a health care practitioner re-certify your condition in the Medical Cannabis Patient Registry (these visits can be conducted by telemedicine).
  • Complete your re-enrollment application through the certification link that will be sent to you after you get recertified.

NOTE: The annual enrollment fee was eliminated effective July 1, 2023. Due to state regulations, OMC cannot refund enrollment fees paid before that date.

Your enrollment application will be reviewed by the Office of Medical Cannabis staff. This may take up to 30 days, and you will receive an email from us as soon as your application has been approved. Office of Medical Cannabis staff may contact you by email if we need additional information.

Please plan ahead. Your certification will expire if your enrollment application is not submitted and approved by the Office of Medical Cannabis within 90 days. To help ensure that your enrollment is approved before then, please complete your enrollment application within the first 60 days of getting recertified. If you do not complete your re-enrollment within 90 days, you will be required to start the process and get re-certified by your health care practitioner. Applications are processed in the order they are received.

Other details

  • Extensions on enrollments or certifications are not allowed under state law.
  • To see who certified your medical condition the previous year, log in to your Registry account and find your certifying practitioner’s information under “Certification Information.” If you need help finding a participating health care practitioner:
    • Ask your medical team or advocacy groups that represent your medical condition.
    • Search on the internet, including the websites for Minnesota’s medical cannabis dispensaries (Green Goods and RISE).

Medical Cannabis Information for Caregivers

Learn about how to become a caregiver, qualifying medical conditions, where to get medicine, and more!

How to Become a Caregiver

Sometimes patients need help administering their medical cannabis or picking up their medicine from a Medical Cannabis Dispensary. That’s when a caregiver can provide support.

To qualify as a designated caregiver, you must register with Minnesota’s Medical Cannabis Program and complete a background check. Caregivers must be at least 18 years old.

Are you a spouse or parent/legal guardian of a patient?

NOTE: A patient’s spouse or their parent/legal guardian can act as a caregiver, but they are not required to complete a background check. Learn more in the next section.

How to register as a caregiver

Your patient must add you to their Medical Cannabis Registry profile. This will generate an email to you with instructions on completing your two-step registration.

To complete the online portion of your registration, you will need your:

  • Government-issued photo ID, driver’s license, or passport.
  • Mobile device to capture an image of your ID.

You will be required to upload an electronic copy of your government-issued photo ID (state ID, driver’s license, or passport). The form will allow you to select a scanned copy of an image or use a photo of your ID you took with your mobile device.

Completing a background check

As part of the process to become a registered caregiver, you must complete a background check (requires a $15 check). Caregivers must update their background checks every two years.

Once you completed the online portion of the registration, download the Designated Background Check Informed Consent form from the link provided in your email or go to the Designated Caregiver Background Check Informed Consent (PDF).

After you have filled out this form:

  • Write a $15 check payable to: MN Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
  • Place a stamp on an empty envelope, addressed to:

Office of Medical Cannabis
PO Box 64975
St. Paul, MN 55164-0975

  • Put your completed form, the $15 check, and the empty stamped addressed envelope in a separate envelope and mail all three items to:

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
CHA Unit
1430 Maryland Avenue E
St. Paul, MN 55106

NOTE: Background checks can take up to 30 days to process.

Once your background check and registration are approved, you and your patient will be notified by email that you can pick up your patient’s medical cannabis.

Medical Cannabis Qualifying Medical Conditions

Only patients who are legal Minnesota residents and have been certified with one of the qualifying conditions are eligible to receive medical cannabis in Minnesota.

Qualifying conditions

  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
  • Autism spectrum disorder (must meet DSM-5)
  • Cancer*
  • Chronic motor or vocal tic disorder
  • Chronic pain
  • Glaucoma
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease
  • Intractable pain
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder
  • Obstructive sleep apnea
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy
  • Severe and persistent muscle spasms, including those characteristic of multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Sickle cell disease
  • Terminal illness, with a probable life expectancy of less than one year*
  • Tourette syndrome

*If your illness or its treatment produces one or more of the following: severe or chronic pain; nausea or severe vomiting; or cachexia or severe wasting.

Medical Cannabis Dispensary Locations

Click on a location marker for the address and phone number of the Medical Cannabis Dispensary located near you. Click on the plus sign to zoom in on a specific region.

Addresses & phone numbers

Blaine

672 County Highway 10, Northcourt Commons, Blaine, MN 55434
1-763-400-4777

Bloomington

5232 West 84th Street, Bloomington, MN 55431
1-952-800-4404

Burnsville

14334 Burnhaven Drive, Suite 14334, Burnsville, MN 55306
1-952-856-8603

Duluth/Hermantown

4960 Miller Trunk Highway, Suite 300, Hermantown, MN 55811
1-218-260-2665

Eagan

2795 Pilot Knob Road, Eagan, MN 55121
1-651-846-9245

  • For hours and more information, visit RISE.

Hibbing

302 East Howard Street, Hibbing, MN 55746
1-218-421-6350

  • For hours and more information, visit RISE.

Mankato

1400 Madison Avenue, Suite 750, Mankato, MN 56001
507-405-0369

  • For hours and more information, visit RISE.

Minneapolis

207 South 9th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402
1-612-999-1615

Moorhead

104 7th Street South, Moorhead, MN 56560
1-218-206-6600

New Hope

7700 North 42nd Avenue, New Hope, MN 55427
1-763-237-5107

  • For hours and more information, visit RISE.

Rochester

3456 East Circle Drive NE, Rochester, MN 55906
1-507-481-3140

St. Cloud

141 33rd Avenue South, St. Cloud MN 56301
1-320-443-6250

  • For hours and more information, visit RISE.

St. Paul

550 Vandalia Street, St. Paul, MN 55114
1-651-313-6733

  • For hours and more information, visit RISE.

Willmar

1413 1st Street South, Willmar, MN 56201
1-320-208-9081

  • For hours and more information, visit RISE.

Woodbury

803 Bielenberg Drive, Building F5, Suite 101, Woodbury, MN 55125
1-612-260-1222

Medical Cannabis Frequently Asked Questions

Information about enrolling, adding a caregiver, and more!

Get to know answers to frequently asked questions that we hear from our patients, caregivers, and people who are interested in becoming a patient.

Also on this page:

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My current medical team does not participate in the Medical Cannabis Program. Where can I find a health care practitioner to certify me? 
I have been certified by my healthcare practitioner. What do I do next?
I received an email that said my certification had expired. What does that mean and what should I do?
Can I use the same email address that I use for another Registry account? 
My current enrollment lapsed. How do I get re-enrolled?
Can I check the status of my enrollment?
What should I expect after my enrollment is approved?
How can I add a caregiver to pick up or administer medical cannabis for me? 
How do I add a parent, legal guardian, or spouse to my account? What documentation is required?
Does the Medical Cannabis Program issue cards for patients? 
Does the Office of Medical Cannabis need to review my Patient Self-evaluation before my Medical Cannabis Dispensary appointment?
How do I make an appointment with a Medical Cannabis Dispensary to pick up my medicine?
Who do I contact if I have side effects? 
Questions about dried cannabis flower
What type of qualifying medical condition is smokable cannabis appropriate for?
Is there an age restriction for dried flowers?
Can you provide some guidance on where I can or cannot use smokable medical cannabis? 
Isn’t smoking anything a health risk?
What happens if someone is caught by law enforcement using medical cannabis where it is prohibited?
How can law enforcement tell the difference between medical cannabis and what is sold on the illicit market?
Questions to consider before enrolling
Is it legal to purchase medical cannabis from outside of Minnesota?
Can I take my medical cannabis across state lines?
Will enrolling in the Medical Cannabis Program and/or using medical cannabis interfere with my right to purchase or own a firearm?
Can I use medical cannabis if I have a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)? 
Technical questions about the Registry
How do I reset my password?
I am having technical issues with the Registry. What are some tips to resolve them?
Registry Tools

Medical Cannabis Registry

NOTE FOR NEW PATIENTS: You will enroll in the Medical Cannabis Program through an email link sent from the Office of Medical Cannabis once your health care practitioner certifies you. Your enrollment application must be approved before you can access your Medical Cannabis Registry account at the link below.

Medical Cannabis Registry Login

This link is for patients (and, if appropriate, their caregivers, parents/legal guardians, or spouses) and health care practitioners who already have an account in the Medical Cannabis Registry. Current patients use this link to access their Self-evaluation Form.

Health Care Practitioner Registration (Create Your Account)
This link is for a health care practitioner (a Minnesota-licensed physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse) who wants to certify patients for Minnesota’s Medical Cannabis Program. To register, you will need:

  • General information: name, address, email, and phone.
  • Your medical license(s).
  • Your DEA license.
  • General information about the clinic(s) where you practice.

Medical Cannabis Information for Public Safety Professionals

Minnesotans who are registered with the state’s Medical Cannabis Program can legally use medical cannabis to alleviate suffering from certain qualifying medical conditions.

Identifying medical cannabis

Medical cannabis produced by the two authorized state manufacturers will be identifiable by the required packaging and labeling. This includes the patient’s registry identification number, name, date of birth, address, name, and address of the medical cannabis manufacturer, the chemical composition of medical cannabis, recommended dosage, directions for use, batch number, and date of manufacture.

Approved forms of medicine

Legal medical cannabis includes pills, liquids, oil, topical, tincture, powder, lozenge, gummies/chews, and dried cannabis flower (for ages 21 and older).

Minnesota Cannabis Registry

Federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities are prohibited from accessing the Medical Cannabis Registry under sections 152.22 to 152.37 except when acting pursuant to a valid search warrant.

Search warrants for Registry information

Law enforcement can request information from the Medical Cannabis Registry by completing the information request form (PDF). Include a valid search warrant and send it to the Office of Medical Cannabis at:

Office of Medical Cannabis
PO Box 64975
St. Paul, MN 55164-0975

Or send to: [email protected]

Medical cannabis statutes and rules

Unauthorized medical cannabis possession report

Transportation of medical cannabis

A medical cannabis manufacturer may transport medical cannabis only to a distribution facility, an independent lab for testing, or a waste-to-energy facility. In addition to specific chain of custody and shipping paperwork that must be with the product at all times, the product must be transported in tamper-evident containers. Rules also require that the product must be transferred so that it is not visible or recognizable from outside the transporting vehicle. The product must be transferred with a two-person crew unless it is going to a third-party testing lab, carrying only hemp products, or for the purpose of disposal – then one person is sufficient. The vehicle may never be left unattended while containing the product. Crews transporting the product must also document the reason, duration, location, and activities performed at all stops between the planned destinations called out in the above paperwork.

Identification/Verification of employees during transport

Employees must carry their “employee identification card at all times when transporting or delivering cannabis and, upon request, produce the identification card to a law enforcement officer acting in the course of official duties.”

Manufacturer site security

Guides for Health Care Practitioners

Continuing Medical Education Opportunities

Guidance Materials

Medical Cannabis Laws and Rules

Recent legislative changes summarized

Program rules

Recent rulemaking

  • Rulemaking for Dried Raw Cannabis. The Office of Medical Cannabis developed new rules to implement the addition of dried raw cannabis as an approved medical cannabis delivery form.

Policy interpretations

Other laws

Petitions for adding new conditions and delivery methods

Members of the public can petition the Department of Health to add a qualifying medical condition or an approved medical cannabis delivery method/approved form of medical cannabis. The department accepts petitions from June 1 to July 31 each year. Petitions received outside this window will not be considered.

Medical Cannabis Print Materials and Forms

The Office of Medical Cannabis has a variety of educational materials and forms you can download from our website. Go to the order form below to order patient and caregiver brochures.

On this page:

Information sheets

 

Patient Enrollment ProcessPatient Enrollment Process (PDF)

Patient Enrollment Process (Hmong, Somali, and Spanish)

Caregiver Enrollment ProcessCaregiver Enrollment Process (PDF)

Caregiver Enrollment Process (Hmong, Somali, and Spanish)

Health Care Practitioner Registration Process Fact SheetHealth Care Practitioner Registration Process (PDF)

Frequently Asked Questions for Public Safety and Law EnforcementFrequently Asked Questions for Public Safety (PDF)

Dried Cannabis Flower Packaging and Label SamplesDried Cannabis Flower Packaging and Label Samples (PDF)

Brochures

Patient BrochureMinnesota’s Medical Cannabis Program Patient Guide (PDF)

Caregiver BrochureMinnesota’s Medical Cannabis Program Caregiver Guide (PDF)

Brochure ordering form

Forms

Acknowledgment documents

These documents are for information purposes only. The content in these documents is included in the Registry.

Registry How-to Guides

The reference guides below have been created to help make using the Medical Cannabis Registry easier. Each guide provides simple instructions along with corresponding images from the Registry, highlighting steps to register and common account management activities.

Petitions Process for Adding Qualifying Medical Conditions, Delivery Methods

Public comment period opens on Sept. 1 for the medical cannabis delivery method petition

The Office of Medical Cannabis will accept public written comment from Sept. 1 through Sept. 30 on a petition to add a new medical cannabis delivery method for Minnesota’s Medical Cannabis Program.

The petition under consideration is:

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) accepts petitions from the public every year from June 1 through July 31 to add a qualifying medical condition or delivery method (the form in which a medication is taken). No petitions for adding a qualifying medical condition were accepted for consideration in 2023.

NOTE: The opportunity to submit a petition for 2023 has ended.

How to submit your comments

By email to:

By U.S. mail to:

  • Office of Medical Cannabis
    PO Box 64975
    St. Paul, MN 55164-0975

Next steps

The Office of Medical Cannabis will provide written comments and background materials to the Commissioner of Health, who will make a decision on the petition by Dec. 1, 2023.

Review petitions from previous years

Data and Reports

Office of Medical Cannabis Information

Office of Medical Cannabis Organizational Chart

Office of Medical Cannabis Organizational Chart 8/23/23 (PDF)

Director: Chris Tholkes

  • Executive Assistant: Nikki Jensen

Assistant Division Director: Vacant

  • Fiscal Management: Sonia Ontiveros
  • Policy & Legal Counsel: Vacant

Research Manager: David Rak

  • Senior Research Analyst: Susan Park
  • Epidemiologist: Vacant
  • Informatician: Vacant
  • Student Worker: Vacant

Communications Planner: Peter Raeker

Registry & Call Center Supervisor: Trevor Laszczkowski

  • Patient Registry Coordinator: Kim Vicars
  • Support Center Administrator: Loretha Cager
  • Patient Registry Services Specialist: Hazel Alcantar
  • Patient Registry Services Specialist: Lynn Yamanaka
  • Patient Registry Services Specialist: Karen Bevins
  • Patient Registry Services Specialist: Jasmyne Catino
  • Seasonal Support Center

Compliance & Enforcement Supervisor: Andrew Murphy

  • Inspector: Pattie Maguire
  • Compliance & Enforcement Coordinator: Garrett Larson
  • Technology Systems Coordinator: John Bosiger

Hemp Derived Edible Cannabinoid Product Unit Supervisor: Vacant

  • Hemp Derived Edible Cannabinoid Product Coordinator: Vacant
  • Hemp Derived Edible Cannabinoid Product Inspector: Vacant
  • Hemp Derived Edible Cannabinoid Product Inspector: Vacant
  • Hemp Derived Edible Cannabinoid Product Inspector: Vacant
  • Hemp Derived Edible Cannabinoid Product Inspector: Vacant
  • Hemp Derived Edible Cannabinoid Product Inspector: Vacant
  • Hemp Derived Edible Cannabinoid Product Inspector: Vacant

Request an Office of Medical Cannabis Speaker or Presentation

Thank you for your interest in the Office of Medical Cannabis!

How can we help you?

Are you looking for any of the following:

  • A speaker at an event or class
  • A presentation about Minnesota’s Medical Cannabis Program
  • A participant in a meeting or panel discussion
  • Other

If so, please complete the OMC Speaker Request Form with the details of your request. We appreciate having several weeks’ advance notice if your request is associated with an event. Virtual presentations are preferred.

NOTE: We cannot provide medical advice and will have to decline invitations that fall into this category.

We expect an increase in speaking requests due to the adult-use cannabis legalization bill. Time and scheduling conflicts may not allow us to accommodate every request; however, we will respond to each request in a timely fashion. Thank you!

Task Force on Medical Cannabis Therapeutic Research

Meeting information

Learn more at Task Force on Medical Cannabis Therapeutic Research Meeting Information.

Membership

Appointments-to-date and vacancies are listed below. Current term: Jan. 3, 2023, to Jan. 4, 2027.

  • House of Representatives (Speaker-selected) – Rep. Heather Edelson, Co-chair
  • House of Representatives (Minority leader-selected) – Rep. Andrew Myers
  • Senate (Majority leader-selected) – Sen. Mark Koran
  • Senate (Minority leader-selected) – Sen. Bill Lieske
  • MN Medical Cannabis Program patient – Vacant
  • MN Medical Cannabis Program patient – Vacant
  • Parent of MN Medical Cannabis Program patient under 18 – Vacant
  • Parent of MN Medical Cannabis Program patient under 18 – Vacant
  • Health care provider – Vacant
  • Health care provider – Vacant
  • Health care provider – Vacant
  • Licensed pharmacist – Vacant
  • Member of MN Chiefs of Police Association – Vacant
  • Member of MN Sheriff’s Association – Vacant
  • Member of MN Police and Peace Officers Association – Vacant
  • Member of MN County Attorneys Association – Vacant
  • Substance-use disorder treatment provider – Vacant
  • Substance-use disorder treatment provider – Vacant
  • Substance-use disorder treatment provider – Vacant
  • Substance-use disorder treatment provider – Vacant
  • MN Commissioner of Health – Brooke Cunningham
  • MN Commissioner of Human Services – Jodi Harpstead
  • MN Commissioner of Public Safety – Bob Jacobson

Statute

Minnesota Statutes 152.36 Impact Assessment of Medical Cannabis Therapeutic Research

Email notification

Subscribe to Updates – Task Force on Medical Cannabis Therapeutic Research

Task Force Implementation Report

This is the implementation report adapted during the January 6, 2017, meeting.

Medical Cannabis Program Information

Resources

Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management

Minnesota is the 23rd state in the nation to legalize cannabis use for people 21 and older. Learn more about the legislation.

For Adult Consumers

What you need to know

Effective Aug. 1, 2023, full decriminalization will allow the possession, use, and home growth of cannabis in Minnesota for people 21 and older.

As outlined in law, a person age 21 or older may:

  • Use, possess, or transport cannabis paraphernalia.
  • Possess or transport up to 2 ounces of cannabis flower in a public place.
  • Possess up to 2 pounds of cannabis flower in a person’s private residence.
  • Possess or transport up to 8 grams of adult-use concentrate.
  • Possess or transport edible cannabis products or lower-potency hemp edibles infused with a combined 800 milligrams or less of THC.
  • Give away cannabis flowers and products to a person 21 or older in an amount legal for a person to possess in public.

What’s allowed if a person wants to grow cannabis at home?

  • Up to eight cannabis plants, with no more than four being mature, flowering plants may be grown at a single residence as long as it is at the primary residence of someone 21 or older.
  • Plants must be in an enclosed, locked space that is not open for public view.

Where can cannabis be used?

Cannabis can be used by people 21 and older on private property (unless the owner prohibits the use of cannabis on their property), private residences, and at places with approved licenses or an event permit (however, no licenses or event permits are available at this time).

Cannabis cannot be used when operating a motor vehicle or operating heavy machinery.

Cannabis cannot be used or possessed in the following locations:

  • Public school or charter schools and school buses
  • State correctional facilities
  • In a location where the smoke, aerosol, or vapor of a cannabis product could be inhaled by a minor
  • On federal property (such as courthouses, airports, and national parks)
  • In federally subsidized housing. Due to the federal prohibition of cannabis, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) does not have the discretion to admit or retain users of cannabis (i.e., marijuana), including medical cannabis, to the public housing program.
  • While on an employer’s premises, or operating an employer’s vehicle, machinery or equipment

Smoking or vaping adult-use cannabis products is prohibited in a multifamily housing building.

Owners of daycares must disclose to parents if the proprietors permit the use of cannabis outside of their normal business hours.

NOTE: Communities may have local ordinances that prohibit smoking or vaping cannabis in public places.

Other details

  • People in Minnesota who are not U.S. citizens should seek legal advice before using or possessing cannabis.
  • The tax on cannabis product sales is 10% (this is in addition to the standard state and local sales tax rates). Medical cannabis product sales are not taxed.
  • Marijuana remains illegal under federal law, where it is still classified as a controlled substance.
  • The first retail dispensary sales (except for tribal nations) are expected to begin in first quarter 2025.

Safe and responsible use

  • Cannabis should always be used responsibly and never used before driving a vehicle or operating heavy machinery. Driving under the influence of cannabis is illegal and subject to additional DWI sanctions. Learn more at the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety.
  • If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have been diagnosed with or are predisposed to serious mental illness, talk with your health care provider before using cannabis.
  • To avoid dangerous interactions with prescribed medications, talk to your health care provider or pharmacist before using cannabis.
  • Make sure your cannabis is stored safely. Keep your products in child-resistant packaging, clearly labeled and locked up.
  • If you think your cannabis use is disrupting your daily life or causing problems at home, work, or school, talk to your health care provider or substance use counselor.

For People Interested in Starting a Business

The new Office of Cannabis Management will release applications, issue licenses, and develop regulations outlining how and when businesses can participate in the new adult-use industry in Minnesota. Over the coming months, the new state agency will develop the regulatory framework for legal adult cannabis, and establish processes and timelines to apply for licenses (Note: applications for licenses are not available at this time; please check back for updates).

Information about buying and selling seeds

Beginning Aug. 1, 2023, cannabis seeds can legally be sold in Minnesota. Cannabis seed as related to the 2023 cannabis legislation will be referred to as marijuana seed to distinguish it from hemp. Marijuana seeds will be sold and regulated under the Minnesota Seed Law. More information about buying and selling seed is available at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Fact Sheet Marijuana Seed FAQ (PDF).

Cannabis tax

Starting July 1, 2023, all sellers of taxable cannabis products must register with the Minnesota Department of Revenue to remit the new Cannabis Tax. Learn more at Cannabis Tax.

Licenses

The legislation establishes the following types of licenses:

  • Cannabis microbusiness (application fee $500; no initial license fee; renewal license fee $2,000)
  • Cannabis mezzobusiness (application fee $5,000; initial license fee $5,000; renewal license fee $10,000)
  • Cannabis cultivator (application fee $10,000; initial license fee $20,000; renewal license fee $30,000)
  • Cannabis manufacturer (application fee $10,000; initial license fee $10,000; renewal license fee $20,000)
  • Cannabis retailer (application fee $2,500; initial license fee $2,500; renewal license fee $5,000)
  • Cannabis wholesaler (application fee $5,000; initial license fee $5,000; renewal license fee $10,000)
  • Cannabis transporter (application fee $250; initial license fee $500; renewal license fee $1,000)
  • Cannabis testing facility (application fee $10,000; initial license fee $10,000; renewal license fee $20,000)
  • Cannabis event organizer (application fee $750; initial license fee $750)
  • Cannabis delivery service (application fee $250; initial license fee $500; renewal license fee $1,000)
  • Lower-potency hemp edible manufacturer (application fee $250; initial license fee $1,000; renewal license fee $1,000)
  • Lower-potency hemp edible retailer (application fee $250 per retail location; initial license fee $250 per retail location; renewal license fee $250 per retail location)
  • Medical cannabis cultivator (application fee $250; no initial license fee; no renewal license fee)
  • Medical cannabis processor (application fee $250; no initial license fee; no renewal license fee)
  • Medical cannabis retailer (application fee $250; no initial license fee; no renewal license fee)
  • Medical cannabis combination business (application fee $10,000; initial license fee $20,000; renewal license fee $70,000)

Social equity

The legislation prioritizes applications for business licenses from people who live in low-income areas that have experienced a disproportionate impact from cannabis prohibition and for military veterans who lost honorable status due to a cannabis-related offense. Social equity includes people who were convicted of cannabis-related offenses before the effective date of the legislation.

Rulemaking Overview

The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) will begin the formal rulemaking to establish statewide industry and commercial requirements in a variety of areas related to adult-use cannabis and lower-potency hemp edibles. Areas that will be addressed through rulemaking include:

  • product labeling and packaging
  • business licensing
  • plant cultivation
  • product testing
  • pesticide and fertilizer use
  • energy and water usage
  • cannabis product disposal
  • OCM response to municipal complaints

In order to meet the high demand for a regulated market for adult-use cannabis and lower-potency hemp edibles in Minnesota, the legislature granted OCM the authority to use the Expedited Rulemaking Process outlined in Minn. Stat. § 14.389. While this process will allow OCM to complete the rulemaking process with some flexibilities that would otherwise not be available, the rules may not be approved and in force until 2025.

Public participation in the rulemaking process

The Office of Cannabis Management is committed to giving the people of Minnesota ample opportunity to be heard as it considers the appropriate limitations and requirements that will be placed into rule. Public discussion sessions with OCM, both in person and virtually, will be offered so that the public can be informed and be given an opportunity to comment on the rulemaking process.

Advance notice of these sessions will be posted on this website and sent to anyone who signs up for email updates on the adult cannabis rulemaking process. Click to subscribe to Rulemaking email updates. There will also be an opportunity for the public to review the rules in their proposed form and submit comment on them, as required by law.

Expungement of Criminal Records

The legislation calls for automatically expunging low-level cannabis convictions and for creating a Cannabis Expungement Board, which will review felonies for expungement or resentencing. Expungement seals a person’s conviction record, making the record not publicly accessible from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Sealing records is intended to remove barriers for people with cannabis-related offenses who are subject to a background check for a job or housing.

Learn more at the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

The Cannabis Expungement Board will consist of the following members:

  • the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court or a designee
  • the Attorney General or a designee
  • one public defender, appointed by the Governor upon recommendation of the State Public Defender
  • the Commissioner of Corrections or a designee
  • one public member with relevant experience, appointed by the Governor

For the General Public

The legislation creates the Office of Cannabis Management, a new state agency, which will oversee adult-use and lower-potency hemp edible markets as well as the Minnesota Medical Cannabis Program. The legislation sets up the structure to regulate and manage cannabis sales and appropriates money for youth prevention, education, and addiction recovery programs, grants for cannabis businesses and farmers, plus other measures.

The legislation funds a wide range of initiatives across Minnesota’s state agencies. For instance, funding at the Minnesota Department of Health targets prevention and education efforts (including for media campaigns); funding for data collection; and grants for local and Tribal public health departments to support education, technical assistance, and outreach.

Key points

  • Adults 21 and older will be able to legally use and possess certain amounts of cannabis in Minnesota effective Aug. 1, 2023; however, cannabis is still illegal on federal property.
  • Hemp-derived cannabinoid products will continue to be allowed.
  • The legislation allows people 21 and older to grow a limited amount of cannabis at home for personal use.
  • The tax on cannabis product sales will be 10% in addition to state and local sales taxes. Local governments will not collect an additional cannabis-specific tax. Learn more at the Department of Revenue’s webpage on Cannabis Tax.
  • The cannabis tax revenue will be split 80% for the state’s general fund and 20% to local government aid.
  • Minnesota will continue to have a medical cannabis program.
  • Medical cannabis product sales are not taxed.
  • Local governments can limit the number of cannabis retailers to one for every 12,500 residents.

About Us

Explore More

The Office of Cannabis Management will regulate cannabis (including for the adult-use market, the Medical Cannabis Program, and lower-potency hemp edibles) issue licenses, and develop regulations outlining how and when businesses can participate in the industry. Get an overview of the rulemaking process.

Contact information

Aug. 16 Information Session recording

About the Cannabis Advisory Council

See the range of expertise needed and learn more at the Minnesota Office of Secretary of State’s website.

Request a speaker or presentation

Learn how your organization can request a speaker or presentation from the Office of Cannabis Management.

2014 Archive

The information below is preserved for archive purposes. But it was drafted in 2014, so you should not rely on it for current information.

Key Dates

  • August 1, 2014: MDH releases an initial draft of manufacturer rules and the “Request for Applications” for public comment. The “Request for Applications” is the process by which potential manufacturers will apply to be selected for registration by MDH.
  • August 8, 2014: MDH hosts a meeting of individuals/groups interested in participating in the medical cannabis manufacturing process. Details here: News release: Medical cannabis program organizing two events for coming weeks (07/14/2014).
  • Mid-August 2014: MDH may release a revised set of the manufacturer rules and the request for Application instructions for public comment.
  • September 5, 2014: MDH releases request for applications to become a state-certified medical cannabis manufacturer. Official notice of expedited manufacturer rules released (rules intended to govern manufacturer operations from December 1, 2014, to November 30, 2015). The effective date of the expedited rules will depend on the Office of Administrative Hearing review.
  • September 19, 2014: Deadline to submit “Intent to Apply” letter
  • October 3, 2014: Deadline for manufacturer applications. Official notice of formal rulemaking published (rules intended to cover renewal period, manufacturer operations starting December 1, 2015, patient and provider obligations) Hiring of initial staff for Office of Medical Cannabis completed (Director, Research Director, Operations Supervisor, Policy Analyst and Administrative Assistant).
  • October 30, 2014: MDH releases the names of the semi-finalists.
  • November 3-14, 2014: MDH will visit the proposed sites of the semi-finalists.
  • November 17-26, 2014: MDH will choose the two manufacturers.
  • December 1, 2014: Two manufacturers registered.

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