Minnesota Extends Cannabis Business Application Deadline Following System Outage

LOS ANGELES- The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) has extended the deadline for cannabis business license applications after its online application system experienced an unexpected shutdown. ​

System Outage Details

On Friday, March 14, 2025, the Accela portal, utilized by OCM for license applications, went offline around 9 p.m. due to system maintenance. The outage persisted until approximately 4 a.m. Saturday, during which applicants were unable to access or submit their applications.

In response to the disruption, OCM has extended the application deadline to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, March 16, 2025. This extension aims to accommodate applicants affected by the outage, ensuring they have sufficient time to complete and submit their materials. ​

Application Process and License Caps

The application window, which opened on February 18, 2025, is accepting submissions for various license types, including cultivator, manufacturer, retailer, and mezzobusiness licenses. Notably, there are caps on certain licenses: 50 cultivator licenses, 24 manufacturer licenses, 150 retailer licenses, and 100 mezzobusiness licenses. Half of these capped licenses are reserved for social equity applicants.

Following the application period, OCM plans to conduct lotteries for license distribution in May or June 2025. However, prospective retailers may face additional months before commencing operations, as cultivation and other preparatory processes are completed.