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MN Cannabis Weekly Roundup: Nov. 2 – 8, 2026

Published November 9, 2026. General information, not legal advice.

Here's what mattered in Minnesota cannabis this past week, Monday, Nov. 2 through Sunday, Nov. 8.

1. Hemp-THC sellers brace for the Dec. 11 federal limit, and Square pulls out

The federal law limiting hemp-derived products to 0.4 mg of THC takes effect Dec. 11. Minnesota's own hemp rules allow edibles up to 5 mg and beverages up to 10 mg. WCCO (CBS Minnesota) reported on Nov. 8 that Northern Coffeeworks in south Minneapolis learned its point-of-sale provider, Square, would no longer process THC product sales; a Square spokesperson said the company began notifying sellers in August. Indeed Brewing has moved hemp sales to cash only, and Back Channel Brewing is discounting THC drinks to sell through inventory.

These are hemp-derived products sold outside licensed dispensaries.

2. September sets a Minnesota sales record: $29.4 million

Citing OCM's Cannabis Market Monitor, The Marijuana Herald reported that licensed Minnesota sales hit a record $29.4 million in September (about $20 million adult-use and $9.3 million medical), up 5.3% from August's $27.9 million. Sales for the first nine months of 2026 totaled about $220.8 million across 3.75 million transactions. The same report counts 238 licensed adult-use retail sites and 52 medical retail sites. The author's post about it drew 24 likes and about 950 views on X.

3. DEA follow-up: registrants get a Nov. 29 supply-chain deadline

After last week's news that the DEA turned down a Minneapolis dispensary over Minnesota's dual medical/adult-use license, Cannabis Business Times reported that the DEA's Oct. 30 guidance gives newly registered medical businesses until Nov. 29 to limit their Schedule III medical cannabis dealings to other registrants or "timely applicants." The DEA also published a list of nearly 7,000 businesses that applied in the expedited window, by type and state. The Star Tribune, via MMJDaily, reported that most dual-market states, Minnesota included, appear to have been left out of the first registrations. OCM said the DEA letter doesn't affect state law and medical cannabis remains available to patients.

4. DISPO opens in downtown Rochester

DISPO, which runs a cannabis club in New York City, opened a 1,900-square-foot store at 108 First Ave. SW in Rochester on Oct. 30, near Peace Plaza, the Post Bulletin reported on Nov. 4. The general manager said all products come from Minnesota producers, including Float Cannabis Co., Minny Grown and the Mille Lacs Band's Leaf Lake. It's one of three planned DISPO stores in Minnesota, with one open in Minneapolis and a St. Paul store expected soon. OCM's Oct. 26 licensed-businesses file lists the Rochester retail site under DIS-L25-000080.

5. Pot Mama's settles into Woodbury

Woodbury News Net profiled Pot Mama's, the boutique dispensary from sisters Shayna Hoechst and Erin Pash, now about two months open at 6445 Lake Road Terrace, Suite 100. It's their third store, after Mendota Heights and Edina, and is built around making first-time and hesitant shoppers comfortable asking questions. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, 21+ with ID. OCM's Oct. 26 file lists the Woodbury retail site under DIS-L25-000045.

6. Grand Rapids switches to a leased city dispensary, aiming for May 1

As reported Nov. 6, the Grand Rapids City Council agreed to lease, rather than build, its planned municipal dispensary, choosing a 2,800-square-foot suite at 1200 S. Pokegama Ave. City Administrator Tom Pagel said Anoka's city-run store, which the council used as a model, ran well above its projected visits but lower per-visit revenue once sales tax was counted, and the lease is expected to save about $200,000 a year. Staff will negotiate the lease and bring it back to the council; the target opening is May 1. It isn't open, and it isn't in the Hub directory yet.

7. Minnesota's 2027 hemp grower and processor applications are open

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture opened applications to grow or process hemp in 2027. They're due April 30, 2027, licenses start at $400 plus $250 per added location, and first-time applicants need fingerprints and a background check. MDA notes that a hemp license covers growing and processing only, not making or selling hemp-derived cannabinoid products. This is the industrial hemp program, separate from licensed cannabis dispensaries.

8. What r/MNtrees talked about

  • "First run underway! Here's what we're growing" (Nov. 4, 82 upvotes, 30 comments, the week's top post in the sample we tracked): Handled With Care shared its first rooted clones and genetics, and commenters asked for more live rosin and live resin carts. Thread
  • "Sour Diesel drops tomorrow!" (Nov. 7, 42 upvotes): a Prior Lake dispensary account announced a new flower drop. Thread and, on the Hub, Dispensaries in Prior Lake
  • "Granola Funk Valhalla Select Review" (Nov. 8): a follow-up on the Legacy Cup winner from last week. Thread and, on the Hub, Valhalla Cannabis
  • "Budtending experience" (Nov. 7): someone asked what it's like to work at a Minnesota dispensary. Thread and, on the Hub, Budtender jobs in Minnesota
  • Harvest and drying posts also ranked high, with three in the top 10 we tracked. On the Hub: Minnesota home-growing laws

More Minnesota cannabis news: MN Cannabis Hub News and past weekly roundups. Engagement numbers are as of Nov. 9, 2026. This is general information, not legal or medical advice.

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