Minnesota Cannabis Timeline
A chronological history of cannabis and hemp policy in Minnesota, from prohibition through legalization and the build-out of the regulated market.
Early Prohibition
1933 - 1970
Minnesota adopts federal cannabis prohibition alongside the rest of the nation.
Minnesota Enacts Uniform State Narcotic Drug Act
Minnesota adopted the Uniform State Narcotic Drug Act in 1935, classifying marijuana as a narcotic alongside opium derivatives. The act imposed severe penaltie...
Federal Marihuana Tax Act of 1937
The federal Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 effectively criminalized cannabis nationwide through prohibitive taxation. Minnesota's existing state-level prohibition w...
Federal Controlled Substances Act Enacted
The Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 classified marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance, the most restrictive category. This ...
Controlled Substances Era
1971 - 2013
Cannabis classified under federal and state controlled substance schedules. Decriminalization debates begin.
Minnesota Adopts State Controlled Substances Act
Minnesota enacted its own Controlled Substances Act (Chapter 152), mirroring the federal scheduling system. Cannabis remained classified as a Schedule I contro...
Minnesota Decriminalizes Small Cannabis Possession
Minnesota reduced the penalty for possession of 42.5 grams (1.5 ounces) or less of cannabis to a petty misdemeanor with a maximum $200 fine. Minnesota became o...
Federal Farm Bill Defines Industrial Hemp
The 2014 Federal Farm Bill (Agricultural Act of 2014) defined industrial hemp as cannabis with less than 0.3% THC and authorized state-level research pilot pro...
Medical Cannabis
2014 - 2021
Minnesota legalizes medical cannabis through a restrictive program. Patients gain limited access.
Governor Dayton Signs Minnesota Medical Cannabis Act (SF 2470)
Governor Mark Dayton signed SF 2470 into law on May 29, 2014, making Minnesota the 22nd state to legalize medical marijuana. The law created a patient registry...
Minnesota Medical Cannabis Program Begins Operations
Patient registration for Minnesota's medical cannabis program began on June 1, 2015, with the first medical cannabis distributed to patients on July 1, 2015. T...
Federal Agriculture Improvement Act (2018 Farm Bill) Legalizes Hemp
The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp (cannabis with less than 0.3% delta-9 THC) from the federal Controlled Substances Act. This legalized the commercial cultivatio...
Minnesota Establishes State Hemp Program
Minnesota established its Industrial Hemp Development Act, creating a state-administered hemp program under the Department of Agriculture. The program authoriz...
Hemp THC Legalization
2022 - 2022
MN Statute 151.72 takes effect, legalizing hemp-derived THC products for commercial sale — a national first for explicit legal THC sales.
Minnesota Legalizes Hemp-Derived THC Products (Statute 151.72)
Governor Walz signed HF 3595 into law, which included amendments to Minnesota Statute 151.72 explicitly legalizing the sale of hemp-derived THC edibles and bev...
Minnesota Statute 151.72 Takes Effect
Hemp-derived THC edibles and beverages became legally available for sale in Minnesota on July 1, 2022. Retailers across the state began selling products includ...
Adult-Use Legalization
2023 - 2024
HF 100 signed into law. The Office of Cannabis Management is established. Rulemaking and licensing frameworks take shape.
Minnesota House Passes Adult-Use Cannabis Bill (HF 100)
The Minnesota House of Representatives passed HF 100, a comprehensive adult-use cannabis legalization bill, sending it to the Senate. The bill proposed full le...
Governor Walz Signs HF 100 — Adult-Use Cannabis Legalized
Governor Tim Walz signed HF 100 on May 30, 2023, making Minnesota the 23rd state to legalize adult-use cannabis. The law allowed adults 21+ to possess up to 2 ...
Adult Possession and Home Cultivation Takes Effect
Most provisions of HF 100 took effect on August 1, 2023. Adults 21 and older could legally possess cannabis and begin home cultivation. Automatic expungement p...
Office of Cannabis Management Officially Established
The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) officially launched operations on October 1, 2023, with Erin DuPree appointed as the first Director. The agen...
OCM Publishes Preliminary Draft Rules for Public Feedback
The Office of Cannabis Management released preliminary draft rules for Minnesota's adult-use cannabis market, opening a public feedback period. The draft cover...
Active Market
2025 - Present
Licensed dispensaries and manufacturers begin operations. The regulated market takes shape alongside ongoing rulemaking.
OCM Formal Draft Rules Published for 30-Day Public Comment
The OCM published its formal proposed rules in the State Register, opening a 30-day public comment period from January 13 to February 12, 2025. These rules wou...
Administrative Law Judge Approves OCM Cannabis Rules
An administrative law judge approved the OCM's final cannabis rules without changes on April 2, 2025, following submission on March 25. The rules were subseque...
OCM Conducts First Social Equity License Lottery
The Office of Cannabis Management conducted its first license lottery for social equity applicants on June 6, 2025. Out of 776 qualified applicants, 249 were a...
Second License Lottery for General Applicants
The OCM held its second license lottery, this time open to general applicants. Combined with the social equity lottery, these two events established the initia...