In 2023, the Minnesota Legislature passed a comprehensive bill to legalize adult use of cannabis. The new law also created a new state office – the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) – which is responsible for overseeing the new cannabis industry in Minnesota.
Governor Tim Walz signed the bill on May 30, 2023, making Minnesota the 23rd state in the nation to legalize adult-use cannabis. Since then, OCM has created an implementation team with permanent OCM staff and state agency experts who are standing up the new state office and developing the operational and regulatory systems for Minnesota’s new cannabis industry. OCM expects to hire up to 150 people by the time the office is fully operational.
The implementation work covers a wide range of efforts, including designing licensing software, drafting rules, engaging with communities and advocates, communicating with the public, writing job descriptions, hiring new permanent staff, and more – all in service to launching a safe, equitable, and sustainable cannabis market in Minnesota.
