State marijuana officials release draft regulations for businesses. Here’s what they are.

MINNEAPOLIS — State marijuana officials this week released draft regulations for a new Minnesota industry set to launch next year, providing a first look at the rules would-be entrepreneurs will need to follow to stay compliant.

“This is another milestone among many we have achieved and many more to come as we work to ensure a safe, equitable and sustainable cannabis industry that benefits Minnesotans across the state,” Charlene Briner, interim director of the Office of Cannabis Management, wrote in a Wednesday newsletter.

Among the provisions are details on employee training requirements, how to properly store products, potency limits and mandatory safety measures. Businesses would have to be part of a statewide tracking system that tracks inventory from seed to sale and have uniform labeling, an example of which the agency provided in its 100-page document.

The rulemaking process more accurately describes what the state legislature passed in its sweeping law legalizing recreational marijuana, which came into force a year ago on Thursday, to enable regulators to implement the law.

There are still a few months left until the first retail sale, except for a few pharmacies in tribal areas. But the news is good news for Minnesotans looking to plan for the future.

“The issuance of these draft regulations is a really significant milestone on the path to opening up our market in 2025. That’s because these regulations need to be finalized and in place before adult-use cannabis licenses go into effect and businesses can open their doors and operate,” said Leili Fatehi, a partner and principal at Blunt Strategies, who pushed for legalization in the state capital and worked closely on the legislation.

Fatehi said the rules were what she expected and praised provisions that she said would discourage customers from the practice and make their lives easier, such as allowing them to order online for pickup in store or delivery.

However, she added that some of the currently proposed rules could prove burdensome, including extensive record-keeping requirements.

“There are requirements for employee and contractor sign-in records, all cash handling, all ingredients used in production. It’s definitely compliance and reporting,” she explained.

This echoes the original response from Calandra Revering, owner of the THC-infused cannabis store Good Zen in Brooklyn Park, who wants to convert it into a marijuana dispensary once it gets a license.

“The biggest request I get is a ton of documentation, a ton of it. So we have to be ready for that,” she told WCCO. “I know there’s a lot of things in the regulations that landlords won’t be ready for, so I’m glad it came out so early so we can start preparing for that.”

These rules are far from final. Minnesotans can submit feedback on the current plan online until the end of August, and there will be a public comment period in the fall.

The Office of Cannabis Management prepared the initial regulatory proposals based on “significant input OCM has received over the past several months through surveys, meetings, and conversations,” according to the office’s website.

The state is currently accepting applications for its first in-state business licenses. for candidates meeting the criteria of “social equality”Those approved won’t be able to open their pharmacies until after the regulations are finalized — likely in spring 2015 — but it will give them a chance to get off to a good start.

Businesses granted pre-approved cultivation licenses will be able to start growing hemp flower commercially this year, thanks to a change approved by lawmakers this year aimed at making the product available for retail sale.