Minnesota Legalizes Recreational Cannabis
Minnesota became the 23rd state in the US to legalize recreational marijuana use when Governor Walz signed the bill into law on May 30th, 2023. As a result, cannabis is now rescheduled to schedule 3 in the state.
Dispensaries are expected to begin selling cannabis in January 2025.
Adults will be allowed to buy a maximum of two ounces of cannabis, eight grams of concentrates, and 800mg of edible THC.
In the meantime, adults 21+ will be allowed to grow in private residences starting August 1st, 2023.
- 8 plants are allowed, of which 4 can be mature, flowering plants.
- Up to 2 pounds of cultivated cannabis can be kept at home.
A new state agency is being developed called the Office of Cannabis Management. The office will oversee regulating recreational marijuana, medical marijuana, and hemp-derived products.
Business licenses are expected to be issued starting in May 2024.
The state will impose a 10% consumer tax collected at the register on recreational marijuana and low-potency edibles starting July 1st, 2023. 80% of this revenue will go to the state, 20% will go to the local government where the business operates.
Cities cannot deny issuing licenses to qualified candidates but can create zoning laws to establish where the businesses can operate in their jurisdiction. Cities and counties can cap the number of retailers based on their population size, issuing at least one license per every 12,500 people.
The new law will expunge past convictions for misdemeanor marijuana offenses and sentence reductions for more severe cannabis-related convictions.
What does this mean for Smokeless?
We've been fielding a lot of questions in our stores about this new law and what to expect from us. There’s a lot of things that need to happen before Smokeless will be able to clearly state whether we will or will not participate in the recreational cannabis market. The Office of Cannabis Management must first be established, and licensing will not be available for at least a year. In the meantime, Smokeless will continue to participate in the low-potency edible market. If and when we do participate in the legal recreational market, you can be assured to expect the same great things from us that you enjoy now: Top notch customer service, extensive employee training, customer education, and carefully curated products.
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