High Stakes: Who's Vying for the Weed Vote?
High Stakes: Who's Vying for the Weed Vote?
This week's issue includes: MN Cann Political Action's endorsements for #mnleg, Trump vs. Harris on weed, and the latest from our neighboring states
The Pre-Roll curates the most important cannabis news and developments at the intersection of policy, politics, and industry development. With over 3,100 subscribers, the Pre-Roll is Minnesota’s premier source for cannabis-related information and intelligence.
The Pre-Roll is written by Blunt Strategies, Minnesota’s first and only full-service strategic consultancy cultivated exclusively for the cannabis industry.
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The first three sections of The Pre-Roll (Announcements, Top 5 Must-Reads, and Upcoming Events) are always free to access, but the most in-depth legislative and agency updates, industry news and intelligence, and expert insights and analysis are reserved for our paid subscribers. To unlock the full edition and stay ahead of the curve, click the button below and upgrade your subscription today.
Announcements
Looking for pro-cannabis candidates to support? Check out MN Cann Political Action’s list of endorsed candidates! Built on the momentum of MN is Ready, the campaign that helped deliver Minnesota's pro-legalization majority, MN Cann Political Action is dedicated to shaping Minnesota’s cannabis industry by backing candidates committed to advancing a fair and sustainable local cannabis industry, as well as other sensible drug policy reforms.
Last week, we shared a link for making donations to a silent auction benefit for the family of Samuel Poquette, a Minnesota cannabis activist and entrepreneur who passed away earlier this month. The deadline to donate has been extended to October 27, 2024, and organizers welcome contributions of any kind. You can also contribute directly to Sam’s family through GoFundMe. Please reach out to maren@bluntstrategies.com with any questions.
📢 Community Classified- Tonna Agra Farm Equipment Auction: Tonna Agra in Owatonna, MN is auctioning off a wide variety of planting, growing, and harvesting equipment. Items up for bid include pots, planters, a dryer, greenhouse equipment, detasseler, tables, debudders, a combine, a pickup truck, and much more. Don’t miss this chance to bid on quality gear for your operation. The online-only auction lots begin closing on Monday, Oct. 28.
Want to place your own Community Classified? Have equipment to sell or a job to post? Contact us at preroll@bluntstrategies.com to feature your listing in The Pre-Roll.
Top 5 Must Reads
Minnesota Governor and Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz emphasized the need for cannabis legalization policies that prioritize communities disproportionately harmed by criminalization. Speaking at a campaign event in North Carolina, Walz stressed that Black and marginalized communities should have the "first shot to make money" in the legal cannabis industry. He pointed out how cannabis laws have historically harmed these communities and argued that legalization must include social justice elements, including economic opportunities for those affected. Walz’s comments align with his efforts in Minnesota, where racial disparities in cannabis criminalization were a major driver of the state’s adult-use legalization bill, which he signed into law last year. While Walz supports federal cannabis reform, he has largely focused on ensuring states like Minnesota can set their own cannabis policies. The governor also called for national reforms to improve banking access for state-licensed cannabis businesses. [Read more: Marijuana Moment]
Charlene Briner, Interim Director of the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), reassured prospective cannabis business owners that Minnesota remains on track to launch its legal recreational market in 2025. Briner acknowledged frustrations about the licensing process, particularly the delay in the pre-approval lottery for social equity licenses. While businesses are eager to get started, Briner emphasized the importance of thoroughly vetting applications to prevent predatory practices, such as multiple applications from the same entity or unfair ownership structures. Over 1,800 social equity applicants have submitted paperwork for the 280 available early licenses, and Briner confirmed that the OCM is reviewing applications and will hold the lottery before the end of 2024. Briner highlighted that Minnesota’s regulatory process is moving at a pace that exceeds expectations, considering the complexities involved in licensing and ensuring the integrity of the process. She cited other states like Missouri, which have dealt with similar issues, and reminded applicants that this is the first time the state is running the process. Briner assured stakeholders that Minnesota will have cannabis businesses operational by 2025, with clear rules expected to be finalized by the first quarter of the year. [Read more: CBS News Minnesota]
The ACLU of Minnesota is representing Jessica Beske, a Fargo woman facing up to 30 years in prison and a potential $1 million fine after being charged with a first-degree drug offense for bong water allegedly containing methamphetamine residue. Polk County prosecutors are pursuing the case under a loophole in state law that treats the water as if it were 8 ounces of pure methamphetamine. The charges have sparked outrage, with critics questioning the use of resources for such cases. Beske’s attorney, Alicia Granse, argues that the case highlights uneven drug law enforcement in Minnesota, especially given the state’s recent decriminalization of drug paraphernalia containing residue. The ACLU’s involvement signals the broader implications this case may have on criminal justice reform in the state. [Read more: Minnesota Reformer]
An Arizona judge declined to void or reassign a contested social equity cannabis license in a case that highlights ongoing concerns about predatory practices in the state’s licensing system. Arizona resident Anavel Vasquez claimed her partners in a social equity application had forced her out of her ownership in the license after paying the $4,000 application fee and managing the paperwork. However, the court ruled that Vasquez had breached her agreement by secretly transferring the license to another company, Menvas, for $2.7 million without authorization from her original partners. Despite broader concerns about out-of-state moneyed interests hijacking Arizona’s social equity program, this case was seen by the judge as more about contract disputes than the fairness of the licensing process. While the court rejected Vasquez’s request to void the license, a separate claim regarding whether the Arizona Department of Health Services should have granted the license in the first place is still pending. [Read more: MJBiz Daily]
In a recent panel hosted by the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal and Platinum Bank, leaders in Minnesota's cannabis industry discussed the challenges and opportunities emerging as the state moves toward launching its legal cannabis market in 2025. Panelists highlighted the complexities of operating under conflicting state and federal laws, especially when it comes to banking, taxation, and insurance for cannabis businesses. Key takeaways include Minnesota's unique regulatory approach, which caps cultivation sizes and prioritizes microbusinesses, differentiating it from other states. With an emphasis on supporting small, local businesses, panelists stressed the importance of collaboration and transparency in the industry. They also addressed the potential impacts of federal rescheduling which could alleviate federal tax burdens but warned that regulatory hurdles remain. The discussion underscored the significance of building a sustainable, inclusive ecosystem, with women and social equity applicants playing a central role in Minnesota’s cannabis future. [Read more: Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal]
Upcoming Events
Minnesota Dual-Training Pipeline Legal Cannabis Industry Forum hosted by the MN Department of Labor and Industry. November 8, 9 - 10 AM via webinar.
2024 Re-Imagining Justice Conference: Pivoting from Problem to Possibility hosted by the Minnesota Justice Research Center. November 19, 8 AM - 6 PM in Minneapolis.
Cannabis Education Webinar Series hosted by the Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants (MNCPA). Ongoing now through early 2025. Topics include: Ethical Considerations in Working with Cannabis; Illicit to Essential: Marijuana and Hemp/CBD Evolving Issues; and Valuing Cannabis 2.0: Unique Marijuana Appraisal Challenges. Webinars offer CPE credits.
UMN Center for Cannabis Research Presentations at the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting. October 27-30 in Minneapolis.
The premium content that follows is available exclusively to our paid subscribers. This week’s premium content includes:
State funding opportunities for health and education
Yet another new hemp beverage group
What else? Municipal government updates
Laura Monn Ginsburg listened to The Daily’s episode on the dangers of cannabis so you don’t have to
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