Minnesota State Wire

Those interested in cultivating and processing hemp in Minnesota for the 2025 season must submit their applications to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) by April 30. A license, required for both individuals and businesses, is valid only until December 31 of the issuing year, necessitating annual reapplication to remain active in the program.

Currently, approximately 50 applicants have sought MDA licenses for 2025, compared to 183 applications in 2024. These licenses are exclusive to the cultivation and processing of industrial hemp and do not cover adult-use or medical cannabis, nor the sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid products. Additional information on adult-use and medical cannabis is available on the Office of Cannabis Management website.

Applicants can access the industrial hemp application on the MDA's website. First-time applicants and their authorized representatives are required to undergo fingerprinting and pass a criminal background check before obtaining a license.

Important considerations for growers and processors in the 2025 season include the necessity for all authorized representatives to pass a criminal history background check before a license is issued. Furthermore, pre-harvest THC regulatory testing is mandatory for every hemp lot, with each official regulatory sample collected by the MDA incurring a $100 fee.

The MDA grants licenses to processors handling raw hemp through initial processing methods such as extraction, decortication, devitalization, crushing, or packaging, and will maintain random inspections of processing sites. License fees remain unchanged for new and returning applicants, along with a 5% surcharge aimed at supporting the MDA's technology system upgrades. A grower license costs at least $400, while a processing license starts at $500.

For inquiries regarding the MDA's Industrial Hemp Program, contact can be made via email at hemp.mda@state.mn.us or phone at 651-201-6600.

Industrial hemp and related categories such as cannabis and marijuana all classify under the Cannabis sativa plant. The distinction of industrial hemp is based on its THC concentration level, not exceeding 0.3% Total THC; anything above this is categorized as adult-use cannabis or marijuana. The MDA does not oversee the manufacture or sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid extracts; these are managed by the Office of Cannabis Management.

From 2016 to 2020, Minnesota operated a hemp pilot program, which transitioned in 2021 to operate under a new, federally approved state plan for production and regulation.