After facing regulatory challenges, one of Minnesota's few cannabis and hemp testing facilities has decided to permanently close its program.
According to the Star Tribune, Legend and its clients were recently alerted by the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) that the lab is "no longer authorized by the state to test products because of failing to address 'security and testing requirements.'"
Legend was previously serving Minnesota's medical cannabis market and the state licensed it in September 2025 for recreational cannabis testing. The OCM granted the company variances to it could help address the state's testing backlog but it said those variances expired this week.
But now Legend has decided to call it quits instead of try to address the issues.
“We no longer see the Minnesota Cannabis Program fitting with our long-term corporate plans for the laboratory and consulting services at LEGEND,” the company said in a written statement obtained by Minnesota Public Radio. “Under the current regulatory framework, we do not see foresee an ability to continue to meet our client expectations in an economically viable manner.”
Taylor Schertler, cannabis and hemp program manager at Legend, told the publication the company's decision led to him and other employees being laid off.
“The main feeling was kind of a shock and bafflement that this decision to me, at least, seemed sudden,” he told MPR News.
With Legend no longer testing cannabis and hemp products, Minnesota now has only three fully licensed labs to handle testing requirements for the state.
