ROCHESTER — Olmsted County is planning its second registration lottery for retail cannabis businesses.
After seeing
11 microbusiness applications for eight planned registrations
last month, the county will start accepting applications from licensed mezzobusinesses on July 14. Applications are available at
https://tinyurl.com/3sb4nrkk
.
The primary difference between a micro- and mezzobusiness is the number of retail outlets the business can open in the state.
Both are allowed to grow, make, sell and buy cannabis, lower-potency hemp edibles and hemp-derived consumer products, but a microbusiness can only operate a single retail location.
A mezzobusiness can operate up to three locations, but each retail outlet must be registered separately with the local jurisdiction .
Mezzobusinesses faced a state lottery for licenses in June, resulting in 100 licenses statewide.
With it unclear how many of the businesses will opt to open a retail outlet in Olmsted County, the new application period, which ends July 25, will determine whether a local lottery will be needed to determine which businesses can receive the two local mezzobusiness registrations.
County commissioners have limited the number of registrations under the county’s jurisdiction to 14, with eight set aside for microbusinesses, two for mezzobusinesses and four for retailers, which cannot grow cannabis but can sell from up to five locations throughout the state.
With 75 state cannabis retailer licenses selected in a state lottery, an application period for local registrations has not been announced.
The mezzobusiness application process is expected to follow guidelines set up for the earlier microbusiness applications.
If more than two complete and eligible mezzobusiness applications are received, Olmsted County elections employees will conduct the lottery, with the time, date, and location of the lottery will be announced on the county’s website at least two weeks in advance.
Applicants do not need to attend the drawing in person, but each must submit a complete application and pay the required $100 lottery fee before the July 25 deadline to be included.
Completed registration applications require:
- A background check through the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management.
- Proof of a pending state-level license application.
- Demonstration that a business location is secured and available for use upon receiving a county registration.
- Relevant business formation documents.
