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    Information on Minnesota State Agencies, Boards, Task Forces, and Commissions

    Compiled by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library

    Office of Medical Cannabis

    Active dates:2014 -
    Authority:
    Established by Commissioner of Health
    2014 Minn. Laws Chap. 311
    Minn. Stat. 152.21
    Function:

    To implement and administer the state's medical cannabis program.

    Succeeded by:
    Office of Cannabis Management
    History:

    The Minnesota Department of Health established the Office of Medical Cannabis after the passage of the medical cannabis bill in May 2014 (see Laws of Minnesota 2014, chapter 311). The office was tasked with implementing the law between May 2014 and July 2015. The law requires Minnesota residents with one or more of the qualifying conditions to join a patient registry that will be established by the state in order to obtain and use medical cannabis for treatment purposes.

    The 2014 law requires the Commissioner of Health register two medical cannabis manufacturers by December 1, 2014 with the expectation that they will begin providing medical cannabis to patients by July 1, 2015. The office began soliciting bids for medical cannabis manufacturers in early fall of 2014.

    In 2023, the Legislature legalized cannabis for adult recreational use (see Laws of Minn. 2023, chap. 63). As part of that legislation, the duties of the Office of Medical Cannabis will be transferred to the Office of Cannabis Management on March 1, 2025.
    Related to:
    Task Force on Medical Cannabis Therapeutic Research
    Medical Cannabis Review Panel
    Subordinate to:
    Health Department
    Membership:

    Director, Research Director, Operations Supervisor, Policy Analyst and Administrative Assistant being hired as of October 2014.
    Agency heads:

    Michelle Larson, Director, as of August 13, 2014.
    Notes:

    The term "medical marijuana" is often used interchangeably with "medical cannabis" to refer to this program.
    Internet resource:
    Medical Cannabis Program, Department of Health
    Minnesota Medical Cannabis Dashboard, Department of Health
    Reports:
    Medical Cannabis Program [Quarterly] Update (April 2016 - )
    A Review of Medical Cannabis Studies relating to Chemical Compositions and Dosages for Qualifying Medical Conditions (2014)
    Note: The Legislative Reference Library may have additional reports on or by this group available through our catalog.
    Documents/Articles:
    Minnesota's medical cannabis director steps down to take job with city of Minneapolis. Star Tribune, 12/4/2023.
    Minnesota expands forms of medical cannabis, but not what it treats. Star Tribune, 12/1/2023.
    Office of Medical Cannabis organizational chart. Minnesota Department of Health, 7/5/2023.
    Minnesota Medical Cannabis Program Updates. Minnesota Department of Health, 6/5/2023.
    Medical cannabis for anxiety disorder? Physician working group takes a closer look. Minnesota Medicine, September/October 2021.
    2021 legislative changes for medical cannabis. Minnesota Department of Health, 6/23/2021.
    Minnesota's medical cannabis program adds sickle cell disease, chronic vocal or motor tic disorder to list of qualifying medical conditions. Minnesota Department of Health News Release, 12/1/2020.
    Adding new medical conditions: Medical Cannabis Review Panel to meet Oct. 21 & 22. Office of Medical Cannabis, 10/12/2020.
    2020 legislative changes for medical cannabis. Minnesota Department of Health, 6/23/2020.
    News clippings and documents. Agencies Notebook Collection, 2014-2021.
    Record last updated: 06/23/2023
     

    All information on this group from the Library’s collection of agency notebooks has been digitized. These materials are incorporated into the “documents/articles” section of the record. Please contact a librarian with any questions. The Minnesota Agencies database is a work in progress.

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