It's been more than two years since Governor Tim Walz signed the state's legalization bill into law, yet many entrepreneurs are still waiting for the chance to sell legal marijuana. In fact, even though some retailers have secured licenses from the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), their shelves remain empty. This delay has left both customers and business owners frustrated, highlighting the challenges of rolling out the Minnesota Cannabis; market.
One example comes from Fridley, where dispensary owner Jen Swanson spent years navigating regulatory hurdles and finally earned her license. Her store is ready, complete with security systems and staff, but there's one glaring problem no product to sell. Under state law, retailers may only stock cannabis grown in Minnesota. That rule was designed to keep the market safe and regulated, but it has created a slow, uneven start for the Minnesota Cannabis; industry.
Cultivators were supposed to get a head start through a pre-approval system, but lawsuits forced OCM to scrap that plan last November. As a result, growers had to wait in line for licensing alongside everyone else, with the first cultivation permits issued in June. This means the earliest Minnesota-grown cannabis won't be harvested until fall. Until then, licensed stores in the Minnesota Cannabis; market have little choice but to wait—and pay overhead with no revenue.
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