ELIGIBILITY TO PARTICIPATE

Since legalizing recreational cannabis in 2023, Minnesota has recognized the hurdles cannabis entrepreneurs have faced across the country and has created a program that supports their emerging market in ways that no other state has thus far. Minnesota’s first round of cannabis business licensing has been slated for “social equity applicants” (SEAs) only, or those the state has deemed deserving of early entrance into the market, as a way to make reparations for past prohibition. While SEAs originally included service-disabled veterans specifically, the recent passage of bill HF 4757 amends the state’s cannabis legislation to include all veterans alike, plus any current members of the National Guard. Other qualifications can be read about here: https://mn.gov/ocm/businesses/equity-applicants/qualifications.jsp 

Social Equity Applicants (“SEAs”) do not have to be Minnesota residents. 

In addition to being a verified SEA, other minimum qualifications must be met to apply for license pre-approval. SEAs: 

• Must be over 21 years of age
• Can’t have a “disqualifying offense”, such as: 
  • Non-cannabis controlled substance crimes in the 1st or 2nd degree
  • Human trafficking
  • Labor trafficking
  • Fraud
  • Financial crimes
  • Illegally selling cannabis after August 1, 2023
• Can’t be employed by the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) or any state agency with authority over the state’s cannabis program
• Can’t be a health care practitioner who certifies qualifying medical conditions for patients in the medical program
• Can’t be a licensed peace officer
• Can’t have had any confirmed labor violations