Cannabis sales in Minnesota are likely to start later than expected. How much later isn’t clear

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota probably won’t meet its goal of launching full-scale retail marijuana sales in the first quarter of 2025 because of the time it will take to draft regulations and issue licenses, the state’s top cannabis regulator acknowledged Thursday.

While Charlene Briner, interim director of the Office of Cannabis Management, didn’t totally rule out the possibility of some retailers opening early next year, she conceded during a briefing for reporters that she doesn’t know how long it will take until legal marijuana is widely sold across the state.

“I don’t think any of can answer that question,” Briner said.

Briner spoke during a briefing that was called to highlight legislation introduced Thursday to make a series of updates to the state law legalizing recreational cannabis for adults, which was enacted last May. Using, possessing and growing marijuana for personal use, within limits, became legal last August. But sales are still a legal gray area.

Many of the proposed changes to the law are aimed at strengthening “social equity” opportunities for people who come from communities deemed harmed by the the prohibition against marijuana to get into the industry legally.

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