SF4542

Purpose

This bill updates Minnesota’s cannabis laws by creating a formal licensing framework for cannabis event organizers and by adjusting licenses and fees for various cannabis and hemp-related businesses. It focuses on regulating temporary cannabis events, ensuring safety and local government involvement, and outlining how events can operate within state rules.

Key Provisions

• License types and fees (Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement section 342.11)

  • Establishes fees for a range of license categories, including:
  • cannabis microbusiness, cannabis mezzobusiness, cannabis cultivator, cannabis manufacturer, cannabis retailer, cannabis wholesaler, cannabis transporter, cannabis testing facility, cannabis delivery service, cannabis event organizer, and lower-potency hemp edible entities (manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers).
  • Each category has specified:
  • application fees
  • initial license fees
  • renewal license fees
  • Examples:
  • cannabis microbusiness: application 500; initial license 0; renewal 2000
  • cannabis cultivator: application 10000; initial license 20000; renewal 30000
  • cannabis retailer: application 2500; initial license 2500; renewal 5000
  • cannabis event organizer: application 750; initial 750; renewal 750; temporary event application 750
  • lower-potency hemp edible retailer: fees vary by location and license type
  • Local units of government may still charge a retailer registration fee (separate from these state fees). Application and licensing fees are nonrefundable.

• Cannabis Event Organizer Licensing (new provisions)

  • Section 342.39 defines a Cannabis Event Organizer license and what it allows:
  • Organize temporary cannabis events lasting up to four days.
  • Perform other office-approved actions related to events.
  • Required information for an event organizer:
  • Type and number of other cannabis licenses held
  • Event location and address
  • Name of the event
  • Diagram showing layout, entrances/exits, consumption areas, retail areas, waste storage, and other relevant spaces
  • List of participating cannabis and hemp businesses and the products they will sell (with a 72-hour window to amend)
  • Event dates and hours
  • Proof of local approval and evidence of compliance with operation requirements
  • Optional disclosures:
  • Whether applicants or leaders have served in the military
  • Additional operational details required:
  • Standard operating procedures and planning/coordination with vendors
  • Security measures and protocols to prevent consumption by staff before/during events
  • Crowd management and age-verification processes
  • Compliance methods for local/state laws, license verification, and handling violations
  • Health and safety plans, emergency response, fire safety, medical assistance, and policies to limit over-intoxication
  • Transportation and disposal plans for cannabis waste
  • Procedures for reporting and documenting events to regulators
  • Labor peace requirement:
  • For license renewals, if the holder has ten or more full-time equivalent employees, an attestation from a bona fide labor organization must be submitted stating that a labor peace agreement has been reached.
  • License limits:
  • A cannabis event organizer license holder cannot simultaneously hold certain other licenses (e.g., cannabis testing facility, lower-potency hemp edible licenses).
  • The office may limit the number of cannabis event licenses by rule.
  • License ownership limits apply to all members of the organization.

• Local Temporary Event Approval (Section 342.40 Subdivision 1)

  • At least 90 days before a temporary cannabis event, the event organizer must submit information to the office, including:
  • Proof of local government approval (permits/licenses)
  • Event address and location
  • Event name
  • Diagram of the event layout (including consumption and retail areas, waste storage, and other notable spaces)
  • List of participating cannabis and hemp businesses and the type of each business, with a number of participants (amendable up to 72 hours before the event)
  • Event dates and hours
  • Evidence of compliance with applicable operation requirements
  • The office may inspect the event site before approving a temporary event.
  • The office may limit the number of temporary cannabis events a license holder can host.

• Cannabis Event Sales (Section 342.40 Subdivision 7)

  • Eligibility to sell at events includes:
  • cannabis microbusinesses with a retail endorsement
  • cannabis mezzobusinesses with a retail endorsement
  • cannabis retailers
  • medical cannabis combination businesses operating a retail location
  • lower-potency hemp edible retailers (including the event organizer)
  • Sales must take place in a designated retail area and must be conducted by licensed retailers.
  • Age verification is required for all customers.
  • Display samples are allowed under specific limits and must be labeled; samples must not exceed specified amounts (e.g., eight grams of flower or concentrate, or a product with more than 100 mg THC for an edible).
  • Customers may be allowed to smell products; labeling and notice requirements apply.
  • Prohibitions include: selling to visibly intoxicated individuals; selling more than legally permitted to possess; vending machine dispensing of cannabis products at events.
  • All cannabis products (including plants, flower, products, and hemp-derived items) sold at events must be kept in secure, locked containers when not being displayed or sold, and stored in a manner that is not accessible to the public.
  • Sales and inventory must be recorded in the statewide monitoring system for tracking, distribution, damage, or destruction.

• Additional Administrative Provisions

  • The office may set other rules related to the number of event licenses and how licenses are allocated among cooperatives, directors, managers, and partners.
  • Throughout these provisions, “office” refers to the state agency administering cannabis licensing and regulation.

How this bill changes existing law

• Creates a formal, fee-based licensing framework for a broad set of cannabis and hemp-related businesses, including a new Cannabis Event Organizer license.
• Adds detailed requirements for temporary cannabis events, including local approvals, event layout diagrams, participant lists, security plans, and health/safety protocols.
• Establishes specific sales rules for temporary events, including age verification, product display limits, labeling, and a statewide monitoring system for events.
• Introduces labor peace attestation requirements for renewals of larger employers’ licenses.
• Allows the state to cap or limit the number of cannabis event licenses and sets restrictions on which license holders can also operate other license types.

Potential Impact for the Public

• Greater oversight and safety measures for temporary cannabis events.
• Clear fee structure for many types of cannabis and hemp businesses, potentially affecting business costs and licensing timelines.
• More local government involvement through required local approvals for events.
• New restrictions on how and where cannabis can be sold at events, including age checks, consumption-area management, and attendance controls.

Terminology Included

• cannabis event organizer license
• temporary cannabis events
• four days (event duration)
• office (licensing authority)
• local unit of government
• diagram of the physical layout
• security measures and protocols
• emergency response plans
• health and safety guidelines
• waste management and disposal
• statewide monitoring system
• labor peace agreement
• bona fide labor organization
• retail endorsement
• lower-potency hemp edible
• medical cannabis combination business
• age verification
• display samples
• restricted vending machines
• intoxication and public safety
• local approvals
• permit and license documentation
• applicant/participant lists

Relevant Terms cannabis event organizer license; temporary cannabis events; four days; office; local unit of government; diagram of the physical layout; security measures; emergency response plans; health and safety; waste management; statewide monitoring system; labor peace agreement; bona fide labor organization; retail endorsement; lower-potency hemp edible; medical cannabis combination business; age verification; display samples; vending machines; local approvals; permit documentation; participant lists; permit inspections.