Minnesota May Bet on Lottery for Awarding Cannabis Licenses

As opposed to a points-based system.

Minnesota is considering a lottery system for awarding licenses to cannabis companies looking to do business in the state.

According to the Star Tribune, state legislators are moving forward with a bill that would swap out a points-based system.

After other states like Alabama have faced lawsuits and criticisms regarding how license applicants were scored, Minnesota lawmakers are trying to avoid a similar situation.

Charlene Briner, interim director of the Office of Cannabis Management, said points-based systems “have not been particularly successful in yielding…equitable outcomes.”

"In order to do this in a way that we're going to be able to launch in a timely manner and not encounter the kind of injunctive delays that have plagued other states, this is where we landed,” she said.

Minnesota legalized adult-use cannabis last year and is currently focused on the rulemaking process.


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