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MN Cannabis Weekly Roundup: Oct. 26 – Nov. 1, 2026

Published November 2, 2026. General information, not legal advice.

Here's what mattered in Minnesota cannabis this past week, Monday, Oct. 26 through Sunday, Nov. 1.

1. DEA says Minnesota's dual license doesn't qualify for federal registration

In an order to In-Dispensary in Minneapolis, the DEA said Minnesota's "dual-purpose" license, which allows both medical and non-medical sales, "falls outside" the federal definition of a state medical license, so it won't grant the business a DEA registration. The Star Tribune reported the order first. The DEA also pointed to Minnesota letting some veterans buy medical cannabis without a written certification, and to dispensaries being allowed to sell hemp-derived products. According to Marijuana Moment, In-Dispensary has 30 days to ask for a hearing, or it can submit a corrective action plan. OCM told the Star Tribune the order "does not impact the state law" behind Minnesota's medical and adult-use programs and that medical cannabis is still available to patients.

On Friday, Oct. 30, the Justice Department said it had registered more than 900 state-licensed medical cannabis businesses in seven states: Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. None of them has adult-use sales underway. The AP reports that registration is expected to bring federal tax benefits the industry has been denied.

2. The federal hemp-THC change is set for Dec. 11, and Minnesota brewers are bracing

The federal change would ban hemp products with more than 0.4 mg of THC, and it's scheduled to take effect Dec. 11. OCM Director Eric Taubel told the Post Bulletin that Minnesota's own law, which allows hemp edibles up to 5 mg and beverages up to 10 mg, stays in place and that OCM will keep licensing hemp businesses. On Oct. 23, Bob Galligan of the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild and representatives from businesses including Minneapolis Cider Works and Fulton Brewing met with U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison. They discussed a bill from U.S. Reps. Angie Craig and Andy Barr that would set a federal framework allowing hemp-derived THC products, based on Minnesota's rules. Rochester's Little Thistle Brewing plans a November blowout sale of its THC drinks while it waits to see what happens.

These are hemp products, not licensed cannabis dispensary products.

3. Anoka approves a dispensary site plan at the former KFC

The Anoka City Council approved a site plan for a proposed Green Goods Anoka at 711 W. Main St. on a 3-1 vote Oct. 19, which ABC Newspapers reported Oct. 27. The city's senior planner said the operator has preliminary OCM license approval. It still has to finish its buildout, get a city cannabis retail registration, and pass OCM's final review before it can open. It's not open, and it isn't in the Hub directory yet.

4. Winona County gets its third licensed cannabis grower

On Oct. 16, OCM issued a microbusiness cultivation license to Whispering Roots LLC, which does business as Vista. MMJDaily reported it Oct. 27. It's the second licensed grower in Dakota, after Wonderland Gardens on Sept. 8, and it brings Winona County to three cultivation licenses. OCM's Oct. 19 file also lists six licensed retail sites in Winona County, all of them in the city of Winona.

5. CanRenew grants: $10.9 million, applications due Dec. 15

OCM opened its CanRenew community restoration grants on Oct. 22. Applications are due Dec. 15, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. Central. OCM estimates awards of $50,000 to $2 million for 15 to 50 organizations. Nonprofits, schools, federally recognized Tribes, local governments, private businesses and community groups (community groups need a fiscal sponsor) can apply. The money is for community investment. It can't be used to start, operate or expand a business.

6. The Star Tribune's cannabis columnist gets the magazine treatment

Mpls.St.Paul Magazine profiled Dr. Clemon Dabney, the Star Tribune's cannabis columnist and the first University of Minnesota student to study cannabis at the PhD level. He holds a microbusiness license and grows in Spring Grove. The magazine reports that his Dabney's Cannabis Co., near Minnehaha Falls, opened in early August. OCM's Oct. 19 file lists the licensed retail site at 5152 Hiawatha Ave., Minneapolis.

7. Black Friday deals are starting early

A sponsored Leafly post from Minnesota Cannabis Services says participating dispensaries in La Crescent, Eagan, Lindström, Rochester, St. Louis Park, Jackson and Edina (two stores) are offering up to 50% off select items all of November. This is a paid post, and we haven't checked prices at individual stores.

8. Shout-out for Valhalla's Legacy Cup win

On Oct. 27, Grow Pros posted congratulations to Valhalla Cannabis for winning at the Legacy Cup with its Granola Funk strain. The win itself came at Legacy Cup VII on Sept. 26. The post had 22 likes and about 1,200 views on X.

9. What r/MNtrees talked about

  • "Market Input Please" (Oct. 26): A company getting ready to make live-rosin products asked about pens vs. carts, sizes and retail pricing. It drew 88 comments, the most of any r/MNtrees post we tracked this week. Thread
  • "Adding CBD flower?" (Oct. 31): A user asked about mixing CBD flower with cannabis flower and whether CBD flower can be bought in Minnesota. Thread. On the Hub: CBD vs. THC
  • Top home-grow post: "Solar Flare, cured, sticky and very stinky" (Oct. 31, 30 upvotes). Gallery

More Minnesota cannabis news: MN Cannabis Hub News. Engagement numbers are as of Nov. 2, 2026. This is general information, not legal or medical advice.

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