HF 2701

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 04/07/2025 05:07 p.m.

A bill for an act
relating to cannabis; requiring the Office of Cannabis Management to review all
verified social equity applicants before reviewing general licensing applicants;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 342.14, subdivision 4.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 342.14, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Lottery.

(a) If the number of qualified applicants who are verified social equity
applicants seeking a type of license exceeds the number of licenses of that type that are
made available for social equity applicants, the office must first conduct a lottery consisting
of verified social equity applicants to select qualified applicants for preliminary license
approval. If a social equity applicant is not selected in a lottery conducted under this
paragraph, the office must include the social equity applicant in the pool of applicants for
licenses of that type that are made available to all applicants. new text begin In each licensing period, the
office must review all verified social equity applicants before reviewing general licensing
applicants.
new text end

(b) If the number of qualified applicants seeking a type of license exceeds the number
of licenses of that type that are made available to all applicants, the office must conduct a
lottery to select applicants for preliminary license approval.

(c) A lottery conducted under this section must be impartial, random, and in a format
determined by the office.

(d) Following the completion of any lottery conducted pursuant to paragraphs (a) or (b),
the office must notify each applicant entered in the lottery that the applicant was either
selected or not selected in the lottery.