Social Equity Verification and Licensing Timeline

Schedule of current licensing cycle

Step 1: Verify social equity applicant eligibility

Verification is the process where OCM confirms an applicant's social equity eligibility. This service is free. The most recent verification window closed Jan. 30. Watch this website for updates about future opportunities to become a verified social equity applicant. 

If you are an applicant who has already had their social equity status verified, your status remains current. You are not required to provide further documentation to verify your status.

Applicants can view guidance and instruction around social equity verification on our Social Equity Verification Process webpage.

Note: Social equity licenses must be owned at least 65% by social equity applicants, which can include one or more people. Each person who makes up the 65% ownership must be verified in order to proceed to applying for a business license. For more information, go to Minnesota Statutes, section 342.185.

Step 2: Apply for cannabis business license

This step includes submitting an application on OCM's online application system, along with all the required worksheets and the application fee payment for the license being sought. The most recent licensing application window closed on March 16.

Applicants must meet the necessary criteria to be eligible for the lottery for available cannabis business licenses. OCM has links to instructions, required worksheets, and other informational materials on this website on the General Licensing webpage. 

Applicants who successfully complete and submit an application may be given an opportunity to fix mistakes or errors through a request for more information process. Applicants will have 14 calendar days to respond. OCM will provide instructions on how to complete this process; however, it is the applicant’s responsibility to submit a complete, accurate, and timely application.

Step 3: Cannabis business license lottery

OCM will conduct lotteries for both social equity and general license applicants for four license types with caps. Following the completion of the lotteries, OCM will notify each applicant whether or not they were selected to move forward. The date for the lotteries will be announced.