Hosting Events

OCM is currently accepting applications for cannabis event organizer licenses.

Please note there will be significant changes to the cannabis event organizer license type on Jan. 1, 2027. The office will make information available in advance of these changes taking effect. Applicants planning a cannabis event in 2027 should review the changes to the law and plan to stay up to date on office communications as the effective date nears.

Learn more about the cannabis event organizer license type and about applying for a cannabis event organizer license.

This information is designed to assist persons and businesses wishing to host public events focused on adult-use cannabis and lower-potency hemp edibles. This information is not intended to provide legal guidance to any person or business, and it is recommended that anyone seeking cannabis event licensure seek independent legal counsel. 

Hosting licensed cannabis events 

Guide to Licensed Cannabis Events (updated 8/1/2026)
This guide provides information on the steps an applicant must take in order to secure a cannabis event organizer license and guidance around prohibited and permitted activities for this license type.

2026 Legislative changes (effective Jan. 1, 2027) 

The Minnesota Legislature passed significant changes to the cannabis event organizer license type in the 2026 legislative session, including transitioning from a temporary license to an annual, renewable license. Those changes will go into effect Jan. 1, 2027. The office will make information available ahead of the planned changes; please stay up to date via the website and newsletters. If you are planning a cannabis event in 2027, please review the changes to the law and office communications as the effective date nears. 

About licensed cannabis events

The cannabis event organizer license authorizes the license holder to plan and host temporary cannabis-related events in Minnesota. The events may be multiday, provided that the event does not exceed four consecutive days in duration. Pursuant to Minnesota law, cannabis events must be limited to persons ages 21 and older and may not include the sale or consumption of alcohol or tobacco. All regulated products intended to be sold at a licensed cannabis event must be transported to and from an event by a licensed cannabis transporter (Minnesota Statutes, section 342.40, subdivision 6). 

Businesses participating in licensed events: As of April 1, 2026, all businesses participating in licensed cannabis events must be a licensed cannabis retailer, licensed microbusiness with a retailer endorsement, licensed mezzobusiness with a retailer endorsement, licensed medical cannabis combination business, licensed lower-potency hemp edible (LPHE) retailer, compacted Tribal enterprise, or a cannabis business licensed by a compacted Tribal regulatory agency.

Tribal Nations: Under the compacts executed between the state of Minnesota and Tribal Nations, compacted Tribal Nations are also eligible to participate in events off Tribally regulated land at retail dispensaries licensed by that compacted nation’s Tribal Regulatory Authority or events authorized by local jurisdictions consistent with the local jurisdiction’s event requirements without needing licensure from OCM.

Local approval for cannabis event organizer licenses: This license type is temporary and must be obtained separately for each event. All cannabis event activities require local approval, including but not limited to any permits or licenses required by the applicable local unit of government and specific approval of on-site consumption areas. Event organizers must provide proof of local approval as part of the application using the Local Approval of Cannabis Event form.

Cannabis and food

Selling food infused with cannabis is against the law, and doing so would place a business at risk of enforcement actions, up to and including penalties. Culinary events in which menu items are infused with THC are not allowed with or without licensure (Minnesota Statutes, section 34A.02).

Edible cannabis products, lower-potency hemp edibles, and hemp-derived consumer products are not considered food under state law (Minnesota Statutes, section 34A.01, subdivision 4). Combining cannabis flower or cannabinoid products with food is prohibited and would be considered an “adulteration of food.” For more information see Hemp in Food FAQs from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Consumers should also be aware that adding cannabis to food increases the risk of overconsumption. The amount of THC that an individual consumes when added to food is difficult to measure and is often unknown or inaccurate. Batch testing and potency labeling requirements are defined in law and are in place to protect public health and safety. Infused foods are not typically compliant with these requirements, removing an important safety check.

On-site consumption at licensed cannabis events

A cannabis event organizer license holder may allow on-site consumption at the event subject to the following requirements. Minnesota Statutes, section 342.40, subdivision 8, contains provisions for—with approval of the local unit of government—the designation of an area for on-site consumption of adult-use cannabis flower, adult-use cannabis products, lower-potency hemp edibles, hemp-derived consumer products, or any combination of those items. 

Refer to the On-Site Consumption guide (updated 8/1/26) for additional guidance and information.

Sampling and gifting of cannabis products at events

A licensed retailer who is approved to be a vendor at a licensed cannabis event may provide samples of cannabis flower, cannabis products, lower-potency hemp edibles, or hemp-derived consumer products during a cannabis event, as long as the following conditions are met:

  • A label or notice containing the required label information under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 342, and Minnesota Rules, chapter 9810, must be displayed and available for consumers [Minnesota Statutes, section 342.40, subdivision 7a(a)].
  • Under section 342.40, subdivision 7a(b), products given away as samples must not consist of more than:
    • 1 gram of adult-use cannabis flower or adult-use cannabis concentrate.
    • 10 mg of THC in an edible cannabis product (including beverages).
    • 5 mg of delta-9 THC, 100 mg of CBD, CBG, CBN, or CBC, or any combination of those cannabinoids that does not exceed the identified amounts in a lower-potency hemp edible.
  • Samples may not be provided to an individual who is visibly intoxicated.
  • Samples are required to be tracked in Metrc.

Minnesota Statutes, section 342.09, subdivision 4, prohibits the sale of cannabis flower and cannabis products “without a license issued under this chapter that authorizes the sale.”

While gifting cannabis from one individual to another is permissible, any gift must be for no remuneration (no payment or compensation), and the giver must not be “in the business of selling goods or services” [Minnesota Statutes, section 342.09, subdivision 1(b)(8)].

Lower-potency hemp edible related events

Under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 342, there are specific requirements necessary for a lower-potency hemp edible retailer to sell LPHE products for on-site consumption. 

  1. An LPHE retailer may sell and permit on-site consumption if they have an on-site consumption endorsement.
  2. LPHE retailer license holders with an on-site consumption endorsement are permitted to sell LPHEs for on-site consumption at an off-site non-cannabis event if:
    • The event has been authorized by the local unit of government exercising jurisdiction over the event.
    • The event organizer holds an on-sale license issued under chapter 340A.
    • The event does not exceed four days in length.
  3. LPHE retailer license holders may also participate as an authorized retailer at a licensed cannabis event hosted by a cannabis event organizer license holder. Note that alcohol is not permitted at cannabis events hosted by a cannabis event license holder.

Local considerations

The office began licensing for cannabis event organizers Aug. 1, 2025. The requirements for licensure are detailed in Minnesota Statutes, section 342.40 and include the requirement that an event organizer obtain local approval directly from the local government before applying for an event organizer license with OCM.

Organizers of lower-potency hemp related events should consider the requirements of the municipality in which the event will occur.

The office strongly recommends that you reach out to the municipality with jurisdiction over your event’s location to ensure that your event is in compliance with all local requirements.