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CHRONICLING LEGAL CANNABIS IN MINNESOTA

By Matt DeLong

In this week's Nuggets: What every cannabis bill at the Legislature would do; Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community to open cannabis dispensary near Mystic Lake; Fargo-based lab expects to open cannabis testing facility soon in Moorhead; Are you planning a cannabis event for 4/20? Apply for a license by March 21; and a roundup of local government news. 

Here’s what every cannabis bill at the Legislature would do: The Minnesota Legislature’s 2026 session kicked off last week, and as is customary these days there is no shortage of cannabis-related bills. Some are nearly certain to become law, while others are less so.

Below is a rundown of every cannabis-focused bill that has been introduced in the Minnesota House and Senate as of Thursday morning, as well as one related to psychedelic mushrooms. Missing from the list so far: the Office of Cannabis Management’s (OCM) proposals that, if enacted, could dramatically reshape the state’s medical cannabis market, which we outlined last month.

HF 3330 and SF 3520

Chief authors: Rep. Nolan West, R-Blaine, and Sen. Robert Kupec, DFL-Moorhead

What the bill would do: Allow an employee stock ownership plan to partially or wholly own one or more cannabis businesses.

HF 3505 and SF 3743

Chief authors: Rep. Bidal Duran, R-Bemidji, and Sen. Steve Green, R-Fosston

What the bill would do: Prohibit a cannabis business from operating within 1,000 feet of a youth athletic facility.

HF 3559 and SF 3740

Chief authors: Rep. Greg Davids, R-Preston, and Sen. Carla Nelson, R-Rochester

What the bill would do: Allow local governments to prohibit cannabis businesses from operating within 500 feet of hospitals, congregate housing for children or congregate housing for transplant recipients.

HF 3615 and SF 3670

Chief authors: Rep. Jessica Hanson, DFL-Burnsville, and Sen. Lindsey Port, DFL-Burnsville

What the bill would do: Allow certain accredited testing facilities not licensed by the Office of Cannabis Management, such as those located in other states, to test lower-potency hemp edibles and other hemp-derived products until May 31, 2027.

HF 3681

Chief author: Rep. Nolan West, R-Blaine

What the bill would do: Raise the threshold for an individual to qualify as the true party of interest for a cannabis business from more than 10% to more than 35% ownership.

SF 3591

Chief author: Sen. Matt Klein, DFL-Mendota Heights

What the bill would do: Limit the potency of cannabis flower sold by licensed retail stores to 15% total THC; limit the potency of retail cannabis concentrates sold by licensed retailers to 30% total THC; limit topical or transdermal cannabis or hemp products sold by licensed retailers to a maximum of 500 milligrams of total THC per package; ban cannabis flower and pre-rolls that have been infused with additional THC or other intoxicating cannabinoids; ban cannabis or hemp-derived products that appear to be like a pastry, candy or chocolate confection; require retail cannabis businesses to post additional warning notices about cannabis products; require cannabis and lower-potency hemp products to carry additional warning labels. 

HF 2906

Chief author: Rep. Andy Smith, DFL-Rochester

What the bill would do: Establish a framework for a state-regulated psilocybin therapy program for individuals 21 or older who have been diagnosed with a qualifying medical condition and meet other requirements; allow home cultivation of psilocybin mushrooms by registered patients subject to limits set by the state commissioner of agriculture; allow registered patients to designate a cultivator to grow psilocybin mushrooms on their behalf for compensation. Designated cultivators would be required to register with the agriculture commissioner; allow gifting of psilocybin mushrooms between registered patients, subject to possession limits; and enact legal protections for registered patients. The bill would not decriminalize the use, possession or cultivation of psilocybin for individuals who are not enrolled in a psilocybin therapy program.

Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community to open cannabis dispensary near Mystic Lake: The dispensary, called Flame & Flora, is expected to open this spring on tribally owned land adjacent to the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, according to a news release. Flame & Flora will source cannabis flower, concentrates, edibles and more with a “special emphasis on products grown and produced by other tribes and small-scale growers” and manufacturers across Minnesota. The release notes that the dispensary will offer a “deli-style” experience, in which customers will be able to see and smell the flower they want before it is packaged for sale. Flame & Flora is currently hiring, with jobs posted to its LinkedIn page.

Fargo-based lab expects to open cannabis testing facility soon in Moorhead: Hot on the heels of my story last week about Minnesota’s cannabis testing backlog (gift link!), comes news that reinforcements are on the way. Fargo-based hemp testing firm Adams Independent Testing expects to open a licensed cannabis testing facility in Moorhead in early April, according to the company’s CEO Kia Adams-Mikesh. Adams will offer full-panel testing for potency and contaminants. More info on the company’s website.

Planning a cannabis event for 4/20? Apply for a license by March 21. In the newest edition of the OCM’s Cannabis Insider newsletter is a reminder to anyone hoping to host an event featuring on-site sales or consumption that cannabis event organizer license applications must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the event. That means applications for 4/20 events need to be in by March 21. More info about hosting cannabis events can be found here.

Local government roundup:

Did you miss last week's Nuggets? Read it here.

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Bill in Eden Prairie sent us this three-week-old Dog Whistle autoflower from Night Owl Seeds, growing organically in soil. Thanks for sharing!

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Feb. 27-28 (Fri.-Sat.): Lucky Leaf Expo Minneapolis - "Come network with some of the best professionals in the cannabis industry during our two-day cannabis conference." Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 S. 2nd Av., Minneapolis. More info.

Feb. 27 (Fri.): Canna Connect's Lucky Leaf After Party - Enjoy local food, community networking and the launch of a new Canna Connect x Earl Giles beverage collab. 5-10 p.m. Earl Giles Restaurant & Distillery, 1325 NE. Quincy St., Suite 100, Minneapolis. More info.

March 7 (Sat.): Homegrown Cannabis Made Easy - Class will cover the basics of home growing with Bob Walloch of CannaJoyMN. 9-10:30 a.m. Mother Earth Gardens Northeast, 2318 NE. Lowry Av., Minneapolis. More info.

March 13 (Fri.): OCM Connecting with Community Listening Tour - "Designed to provide the general public with an overview of the OCM’s work and explain how the office regulates the cannabis industry in Minnesota." Limited capacity; registration is required. 3-4:15 p.m. Lake Superior College, Commons Room M255, 2101 Trinity Rd., Duluth. More info.