SF4403 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Cannabis business licensing provisions technical changes
Related bill: HF4199
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill makes technical changes to how Minnesota regulates cannabis businesses and the hemp consumer industry. It aims to improve regulation, product safety, and consumer information, while updating licensing rules and related laws. It also seeks to promote economic growth, especially in areas that were negatively affected by cannabis prohibition, and to modernize how the state oversees cannabis and hemp products.
Key Provisions
- Creates and updates a system to regulate cannabis and hemp products, including standards for manufacturing, testing, packaging, and labeling.
- Requires warnings and health information for products, including an expiration date and a label about potential risks.
- Establishes rules to prevent unauthorized access to cannabis and hemp products by people under 21.
- Implements health-related warnings and may require additional warnings about risks to brain development for people under 25, including risks for pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Sets limits on the potency of cannabis flower and cannabis products; allows increases in plant canopy and outdoor cultivation limits to meet demand; ties these limits to licensing categories (retailers, microbusinesses, and mezzobusinesses).
- Requires licensing processes to include fingerprinting and background checks, including obtaining FBI conviction data for license applicants or certain business roles.
- Gives the licensing office authority to inspect licensees, access records, and publish information needed to protect health and safety.
- Allows the office to recall cannabis products or ingredients that pose a serious risk.
- Enables the office to make loans or grants if money is available and to authorize research on cannabis, hemp, and related products.
- Requires a warning label about the effects of use for people 25 and younger and may require additional health warnings supported by credible science.
- Grants enforcement tools, such as civil penalties and the use of unmarked vehicles for seizures or investigations.
- Requires reporting and ongoing oversight of licensees, and gives the office authority to publicize information relevant to cannabis businesses, workers, and public health.
- Expands authority to regulate both the cannabis industry and the hemp consumer industry, including hemp edibles and hemp-derived products with lower potency.
- Provides a framework for recalls and product safety as part of ongoing regulation.
Changes to Law and Authority
- The Office responsible for cannabis regulation gains broader powers to regulate, license, monitor, inspect, and enforce the cannabis and hemp markets.
- Adds mandatory background checks and FBI conviction data for individuals seeking licenses or serving in key roles in licensed entities.
- Expands ability to publish information, issue penalties, and conduct recalls to protect public health and safety.
- Introduces a new framework for financing research, grants, and related activities to support the industry.
- Temporarily (through January 1, 2027) preserves or adds power to set potency limits for adult-use cannabis products and to permit certain activities that are necessary for a licensee to operate.
- Repeals and updates certain portions of existing state law (including parts of Minnesota Statutes 151.72) to align with the new regulatory framework.
Public Health and Consumer Information
- Requires clear labeling and expiration dates on products.
- Establishes a warning label about the effects of cannabis use on people 25 years and younger.
- Reviews scientific literature to determine whether additional health and safety warnings are needed, including risks to brain development and effects on pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Focuses on reducing underage access and informing consumers about potential health risks.
Licensing, Oversight, and Enforcement
- Sets rules for who can grow, manufacture, and sell cannabis and hemp products, including canopies and cultivation limits.
- Creates oversight for various license types (retailers, microbusinesses, mezzobusinesses) and their ability to sell cannabis flower and products.
- Requires licensing processes to include background checks, fingerprinting, and access to criminal history data.
- Empowers the office to inspect facilities, books, and records; impose civil penalties; and recall products when needed.
- Authorizes the use of unmarked vehicles for law enforcement activities related to cannabis regulation.
- Provides mechanisms for data collection, reporting, and public disclosure related to the cannabis and hemp industries.
Repeals and Effective Provisions
- Repeals certain subdivisions of existing statutes related to hemp and cannabis provisions (as listed in the bill).
- Introduces transitional provisions and temporary measures (notably potency controls) that apply until January 1, 2027.
Relevant terms - cannabis, cannabis flower, cannabis products - hemp, hemp edibles, hemp-derived consumer products, lower-potency hemp products - adult-use cannabis, potency limits, plant canopy limits, outdoor cultivation - licensing, licensed cannabis retailers, microbusinesses, mezzobusinesses - Office (regulatory agency), licensing duties, inspections, records, reporting - fingerprints, FBI conviction data, background checks - recalls, product safety, labeling, expiration date, best-used-by date - warnings, health warnings, brain development, under 25, pregnancy, breastfeeding - authorized research, loans and grants, funding - unmarked motor vehicles (for enforcement) - civil penalties
Relevant Terms section - cannabis licensing, office, fingerprints, FBI data, inspections - cannabis flower, cannabis products, potency limits - adult-use cannabis, plant canopy, outdoor cultivation - hemp edibles, hemp-derived products, lower-potency hemp - labeling, expiration date, warnings, brain development - recalls, health and safety, public health - licensing categories: retailers, microbusinesses, mezzobusinesses - prohibitions for under-21 access, public health warnings, research - civil penalties, enforcement, data reporting
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Upcoming committee meetings
- Commerce and Consumer Protection on: March 17, 2026 12:30
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 12, 2026 | Senate | Action | Introduction and first reading | ||
| March 12, 2026 | Senate | Action | Referred to | Commerce and Consumer Protection |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Expands the office's regulatory powers and duties, including licensing, enforcement, public health considerations, and reporting."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 342.02 subdivision 2 to expand the powers and duties of the cannabis regulatory office.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "342.02",
"subdivision": "subdivision 2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Updates or adds provisions within the regulatory framework governing cannabis regulatory actions."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 342.23 subdivision 5 related to cannabis regulation.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "342.23",
"subdivision": "subdivision 5"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Adjusts licensing-related authorities or processes within the cannabis regulatory system."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 342.27 subdivision 2 concerning cannabis licensing provisions.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "342.27",
"subdivision": "subdivision 2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Modifies or expands powers and duties of the regulatory office as it pertains to cannabis regulation."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 342.37 subdivision 1 related to regulatory powers.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "342.37",
"subdivision": "subdivision 1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Introduces or updates authority regarding recall or corrective actions in the cannabis context."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 342.39 subdivision 1 addressing recall or regulatory actions.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "342.39",
"subdivision": "subdivision 1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Incorporates provisions from 342.12 in the 2025 supplement into the bill."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill references Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement section 342.12 as part of the cannabis licensing framework.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "342.12",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Modifies or cross-references subdivision 3 of 342.14 in the updated statutory framework."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill references Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement section 342.14 subdivision 3 within the licensing provisions.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "342.14",
"subdivision": "subdivision 3"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Incorporates or updates provisions from 342.16 in the 2025 supplement."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill references Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement section 342.16 as part of the cannabis regulatory changes.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "342.16",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [
"Repeal of subsection 1 of section 151.72."
],
"summary": "This bill repeals Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 151.72 subdivision 1.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "151.72",
"subdivision": "subdivision 1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [
"Repeal of subsection 2 of section 151.72."
],
"summary": "This bill repeals Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 151.72 subdivision 2.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "151.72",
"subdivision": "subdivision 2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [
"Repeal of subsection 4 of section 151.72."
],
"summary": "This bill repeals Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 151.72 subdivision 4.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "151.72",
"subdivision": "subdivision 4"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [
"Repeal of subsection 5 of section 151.72."
],
"summary": "This bill repeals Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 151.72 subdivision 5.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "151.72",
"subdivision": "subdivision 5"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [
"Repeal of subsection 5b of section 151.72."
],
"summary": "This bill repeals Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 151.72 subdivision 5b.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "151.72",
"subdivision": "subdivision 5b"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [
"Repeal of subsection 5c of section 151.72."
],
"summary": "This bill repeals Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 151.72 subdivision 5c.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "151.72",
"subdivision": "subdivision 5c"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [
"Repeal of subsection 6 of section 151.72."
],
"summary": "This bill repeals Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 151.72 subdivision 6.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "151.72",
"subdivision": "subdivision 6"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [
"Repeal of subsection 7 of section 151.72."
],
"summary": "This bill repeals Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 151.72 subdivision 7.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "151.72",
"subdivision": "subdivision 7"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Potential addition or modification to subdivision 3 under the 2025 supplement."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill references Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement section 151.72 subdivision 3.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "151.72",
"subdivision": "subdivision 3"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Potential addition or modification to subdivision 5a.1.9 under the 2025 supplement."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill references Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement section 151.72 subdivision 5a.1.9.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "151.72",
"subdivision": "subdivision 5a.1.9"
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee