Minnesota cannabis regulators have received more than 700 applications for social equity licenses within 24 hours of the application window opening, MPR News reports. The state program includes individuals with prior cannabis charges, those from areas disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs, veterans, and new farmers as social equity license candidates.
Office of Cannabis Management Interim Director Charlene Briner told MPR that officials are “excited about the high level of activity.” A Minnesota Reformer report estimates that between 30% and 40% of adults in the state could qualify as social equity applicants.
“And it doesn’t necessarily mean that all of the people who have entered the system and applied for that status will actually follow through and submit a full license. So that remains to be seen.” — Briner to MPR
The state will open licenses to all applicants starting July 24 and, after review, those applicants will be placed into a lottery.
“We’re unique [in] some of the protections that were added in the legislative session this year to really protect that kind of craft industry model and make sure that businesses are prepared to succeed in what’s a very volatile market,” Briner said in the report. “We feel confident that we’re in as good a position as we can in be to continue to launch.”
The state license window for all applicants closes August 12.
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