Minnesota OCM Opens New Window for Hemp Edible Licenses

ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) began accepting applications again on April 1 for three types of lower-potency hemp edible (LPHE) business licenses: retailer, manufacturer and wholesaler. OCM Executive Director Eric Taubel said the agency continues to support compliant businesses as they navigate both state rules and national policy developments.

The agency will review submissions and issue approvals on a rolling basis. The relaunch gives businesses that missed last year’s deadline or received denials a fresh chance to participate in the market for hemp-derived THC edibles and beverages sold to adults 21-plus.

In October 2025, the office received more than 2,200 applications, most of them from retailers. As of late March, officials had issued 1,550 licenses, primarily to retailers, with more than 1,500 hemp-derived THC businesses now operating across the state. The latest opening follows the close of a product transition period on March 31 that allowed existing operators to adjust to the state’s updated Cannabis and hemp regulations under Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 342.

Federal legislation signed last November includes a provision set to take effect in November 2026 that would prohibit hemp-derived products containing more than 0.4 milligrams of THC. Minnesota officials have noted the change could limit interstate shipping for these products, though hemp edibles would remain legal within the state.

The OCM reopening highlights Minnesota’s steady approach to licensing in a category that has drawn significant consumer interest since the state first permitted sales of hemp-derived products in June, 2022. With applications now open indefinitely, the office aims to balance market access with product safety and testing requirements at a time when lab capacity remains tight. This step keeps legitimate operators in the game while maintaining core compliance standards and leaving room for the market to adjust as federal deadlines draw closer.

Image: Sherpa/Minnesota State’s emblem courtesy of Anderson Design Group