SF4429 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Cannabis business and hemp business license provisions modification

AI Generated Summary

Purpose

This bill changes how cannabis and hemp businesses are licensed, and it adds detailed labeling rules for cannabinoid products. It aims to improve information for consumers, tighten licensing rules, and set clear safety and testing expectations for products like cannabis flower, hemp edibles, topicals, and medical cannabis products. It also updates rules to guide which cannabinoids can be used in products and how much of them can be in a package.

Main changes at a glance

  • Licensing structure and limits
    • Allows different hemp licenses (lower-potency hemp edible manufacturer, wholesaler, and retailer) to be held together, and lets those entities operate alongside an industrial hemp grower license. It also clarifies that someone with hemp licenses cannot hold a cannabis business license.
    • Sets minimum age for hemp licenses at 21.
    • Requires annual license renewals and prohibits license transfers.
  • Expanded and standardized labeling
    • Adds detailed label requirements for all cannabis flower, hemp-derived products, medical cannabis products, and hemp-derived topicals, including who grew or manufactured the product, where it was grown, net weight, batch number, cannabinoid content, testing verification, usage directions, and child-safety/Warn info.
    • Introduces a universal symbol to indicate product type (cannabis/ hemp product) and a specific warning symbol with Poison Control information.
    • Requires verification that products were tested and meet applicable standards (testing per specified statute).
  • Lower-potency hemp edibles
    • Creates specific labeling for lower-potency hemp edibles, including business information for both cultivation and manufacturing, net weight, batch number, serving size, cannabinoid profile, and THC information.
    • Allows scannable barcodes as an alternative way to convey required label information.
    • If an edible contains only nonintoxicating cannabinoids with no THC, the universal symbol requirement may not apply.
  • Medical cannabis labeling
    • Adds required patient information on the label for medical cannabis flowers and cannabinoid products (patient name, date of birth, caregiver or authorized guardian if applicable, and registry ID).
  • Cannabinoid framework
    • Limits cannabinoids to cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG) by default, but the office can approve other non-intoxicating cannabinoids.
    • If other cannabinoids are approved, the total amount of any additional cannabinoids per package cannot exceed 1 milligram, and total THC must not exceed 0.3% by weight, unless otherwise allowed under the office’s rules.
    • Allows certain naturally occurring hemp concentrates to include other cannabinoids under the 1 mg per package and 0.3% THC limits.

Detailed provisions by topic

  • Licensing and eligibility

    • A person, cooperative, or business may hold combinations of lower-potency hemp edible licenses (manufacturer, wholesaler, retailer) and also hold an industrial hemp grower license.
    • The same entities may not hold a cannabis business license.
    • Hemp licenses require eligibility criteria (age 21+, completed applications, truthful information, paid fees) and annual renewal; licenses are not transferable.
    • A person or business may hold hemp licenses and other non-cannabis licenses (e.g., food, tobacco-related products, alcohol) as long as not holding a cannabis license.
  • Labeling for cannabis flower and hemp plant parts

    • Labels must include: cultivation location, net weight, batch number, cannabinoid profile, and a universal symbol indicating product type.
    • Labels must show testing verification that the product was tested according to the applicable standards.
    • Labels must provide usage directions and safety statements (Keep out of reach of children; warning symbol; Poison Control information).
    • Other statements required by the regulatory office may be included.
  • Labeling for cannabinoid products excluding lower-potency hemp edibles

    • Labels must include: cultivator/producer name and license number, net weight, batch number, serving size, cannabinoid profile per serving and total, ingredients, universal symbol, and testing verification.
    • Labels must include usage information and child-safety warnings plus Poison Control information.
  • Medical cannabis labeling

    • For medical cannabis flowers and cannabinoid products, labels must include patient name and date of birth, caregiver or designated guardian information if applicable, and the patient’s registry identification number.
  • Labeling for hemp-derived topical products

    • Labels must include: manufacturer details, name and address of the testing laboratory, net weight, type of topical product, cannabinoids per serving and total, ingredients, a statement that the product does not claim to diagnose/treat/cure/prevent disease (unless FDA-approved), and other required information.
    • Products containing THC must include the same information as above plus THC per serving and total, the THC universal symbol, a designated warning symbol, Poison Control information, and proof of testing.
    • All topicals must show testing verification and usage information.
  • Labeling of lower-potency hemp edibles

    • Labels must include: cultivation and manufacturing business information, net weight, batch number, serving size, cannabinoid profile per serving and total THC, ingredients, universal symbol (if applicable), a THC warning symbol, Poison Control information, usage directions, and other required statements.
    • A cannabis or hemp business may provide required information via a scannable barcode that is accurate and always active.
    • If the product contains only nonintoxicating cannabinoids and no THC, the universal symbol may not be required.
  • Approved cannabinoids and limits

    • Generally allows CBD and CBG; other cannabinoids require office approval.
    • If other cannabinoids are approved, they must be nonintoxicating; they may be present only if derived from hemp concentrate naturally occurring in hemp plants or parts, and total of all other cannabinoids per package cannot exceed 1 mg, with total THC not exceeding 0.3%.

Significant changes to law and practice

  • Market structure and licensing

    • Introduces a broader, more flexible hemp licensing framework that can operate alongside (but not overlap with) cannabis licenses.
    • Adds explicit prohibitions on holding cannabis licenses while holding hemp licenses, and requires annual license renewals with no transferability.
  • Consumer information and safety

    • Substantially increases labeling detail across product types to improve traceability (grower/producer identity, origin, batch numbers, cannabinoid content, testing, and usage guidance).
    • Introduces standardized safety symbols and Poison Control information across products.
    • Expands labeling to medical cannabis products and to hemp-derived topicals, including THC content for products that contain it.
  • Product and cannabinoid rules

    • Establishes a controlled framework for what cannabinoids may be used and in what amounts, emphasizing nonintoxicating cannabinoids and strict limits on other cannabinoids and THC per package.
    • Allows for non-traditional methods of delivering required label information (e.g., scannable barcodes) for certain products.
  • Safety and testing

    • Maintains requirements that products be tested and meet standards, with explicit reference to testing under the relevant statutory provisions.
    • Requires lab details on labels and clear verification of testing results.

Relevant Terms - lower-potency hemp edible license - hemp edible manufacturer - hemp edible wholesaler - hemp edible retailer - industrial hemp grower - cannabis microbusiness - cannabis mezzobusiness - cannabis license - hemp license - universal symbol - warning symbol - Poison Control Center - testing verification - cannabinoid profile - net weight - batch number - serving size - THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) - CBD (cannabidiol) - CBG (cannabigerol) - nonintoxicating cannabinoids - cannabis flower - hemp-derived consumer product - medical cannabis flower - medical cannabinoid product - scannable barcode - import labeling (alternative labeling for imported edibles) - cultivation location - manufacturer license - laboratory testing (independent accredited laboratory)

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary for a specific audience (e.g., parents, small business owners, students) or highlight which sections most affect particular stakeholders.

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 12, 2026SenateActionIntroduction and first reading
March 12, 2026SenateActionReferred toCommerce and Consumer Protection

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Requires hemp license applicants to be at least 21 years old.",
        "Requires applicants to complete licensure or renewal applications and truthfully comply with information requests.",
        "Requires applicants not to be employed by the office or any state agency with regulatory authority over the chapter.",
        "Requires applicants not to hold any cannabis business license.",
        "States licenses must be renewed annually."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Amends Minn. Stat. 2024, §342.44, subd. 2 to establish hemp license issuance eligibility rules and related licensing constraints, including renewal and employment restrictions.",
      "modified": [
        "Introduces explicit eligibility and renewal requirements for hemp licenses and ties license eligibility to prohibition on holding cannabis licenses."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "342.44",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Allows a person, cooperative, or business to hold any combination of a lower-potency hemp edible manufacturer, wholesale, and retailer licenses.",
        "Prohibits a person, cooperative, or business holding a lower-potency hemp edible license from holding a cannabis business license."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Amends Minn. Stat. 2025 Supplement §342.43, subd. 2 to set licensing limits for lower-potency hemp edibles licenses.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifies licensing combinations and cross-references the cannabis license prohibition when holding hemp licenses."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "342.43",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Name and license number of the licensee (cannabis microbusiness, cannabis mezzobusiness, cultivator, medical cannabis combination business, or industrial hemp grower) that cultivated the product.",
        "Location where the product was cultivated and net weight of the product.",
        "Batch number and cannabinoid profile.",
        "A universal symbol indicating the package contains cannabis or hemp-derived products.",
        "Verification that the product was tested per §342.61 and complies with applicable standards.",
        "Usage directions, product type, and warnings including 'Keep this product out of reach of children' and Poison Control information.",
        "Any other statements or information required by the office."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Adds content requirements for labeling cannabis flower and hemp-derived consumer products (Subd.2).",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "342.63",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Name and license number of the licensee who cultivated the cannabis flower or hemp plant parts used in the product.",
        "Name and license number of the licensee who manufactured the cannabis product (cannabis concentrate, hemp concentrate, or artificially derived cannabinoid) and, if different, the name and license number of the other licensee that manufactured the product.",
        "Net weight, batch number, serving size, cannabinoid profile per serving and in total, and a list of ingredients.",
        "Universal symbol and a warning symbol indicating not for children.",
        "Testing verification per §342.61 and compliance with applicable standards.",
        "Usage directions and any other information required by the office."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Adds labeling content for cannabinoid products excluding lower-potency hemp edibles (Subd.3).",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "342.63",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 3"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Patient's name and date of birth.",
        "If applicable, the names and dates of birth of the patient's registered designated caregiver, or verification of guardian or spouse if applicable.",
        "Patient's registry identification number."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Adds labeling content for medical cannabis flower and medical cannabinoid products (Subd.4).",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "342.63",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 4"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Manufacturer name, location, phone number, and website.",
        "Name and address of the independent accredited laboratory used to test the product.",
        "Net weight or volume of the product.",
        "Type of topical product and cannabinoid content per serving and in total.",
        "List of ingredients and a disclaimer that the product does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease unless approved by FDA, where applicable.",
        "Any other statements or information required by the office."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Adds labeling content for hemp-derived topical products (Subd.5).",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "342.63",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 5"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Information about the business that cultivated the hemp parts used in the product (name and address or license number).",
        "Information about the business that manufactured the hemp concentrate and cannabinoids used (name and address or license number).",
        "Net weight, batch number, serving size, and cannabinoid profile per serving and total.",
        "List of ingredients, universal symbol, and warning symbol indicating not for children.",
        "Verification that the edible was tested per §342.61, usage directions, and any other required information."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Adds labeling requirements for lower-potency hemp edibles (Subd.7).",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "342.63",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 7"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Products may contain cannabidiol or cannabigerol.",
        "Office may approve cannabinoids other than THC if determined to be nonintoxicating.",
        "If other cannabinoids are used, they must be hemp concentrate naturally occurring in hemp plants or hemp plant parts, and total of all other cannabinoids must not exceed 1 mg per package with total THC not exceeding 0.3%."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Defines approved cannabinoids and related restrictions (Subd.3).",
      "modified": [
        "Adds a framework for approval of non-specified cannabinoids and imposes potency limits."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "342.66",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 3"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "References testing requirements used for product verification (per §342.61).",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "342.61",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Cross-reference to alcoholic beverages licensing; no direct change to §340A.101 enacted by this bill.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "340A.101",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Cross-reference to license types (e.g., tobacco-related devices and electronic delivery devices); no direct change to §609.685 enacted by this bill.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "609.685",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Cross-reference to licensure provisions; no direct change to §609.6855 enacted by this bill.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "609.6855",
    "subdivision": ""
  }
]

Progress through the legislative process

17%
In Committee
Loading…