One Year Later: Minnesota still working to get cannabis businesses up and running

A year into legal recreational cannabis in Minnesota, the state still isn't totally open for business as the new office of Cannabis Management looks to get the final pieces in place.

With regulations and business licenses still pending for the state, things still seem to be in limbo for the industry.

Josh Collins with the Office of Cannabis Management says its been a multi-agency effort just to get things where they are today. He adds it will take more time to make things are safe.

"We're really grateful for all of the work that the folks did at those other agencies to really prepare us for that regulatory responsibility that we have to ensure the safety of these products," explains Collins.

On Wednesday, the office released it's first draft of rules for adult-use cannabis businesses that include thing like storage, labeling and testing. Those rules must be finalized before the market can officially open.

Collins says right now, the focus is on business licenses and drafting industry rules.

"We're going to have the retail businesses opening up, starting early next year," says Collins. "And one of the things the legislature did this session is have a provision that's going to allow some of those early start businesses to be able to put seeds or plants into the ground this fall."

As for the Director of Cannabis management? That position has yet to be officially filled. The interim position is held by Charlene Briner who was previously the Deputy Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Services.