MPR News - Local businesses prep for legal cannabis plants, possession come August (May 30, 2023)
There are a lot of cannabis seed vendors selling online and Minnesotans have been buying those seeds for years, said Tanner Berris. Technically it’s illegal under federal law, but the federal Drug Enforcement Agency has issued guidance indicating it will not take enforcement action on seed sales.
“It appears as though no one will be able to legally acquire these genetics, but also everyone’s going to,” said Berris who runs the two-year-old Minnesota Cannabis College. The organization is gearing up to train cannabis industry workers and home growers.
“I think we’re going to see that all sort of figured out live, if businesses are gonna be stopped through cease and desist letters or if they’ll be allowed to continue operating,” he said.
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There will be plenty of training opportunities as businesses try to engage new customers.
“But honestly, in terms of growing cannabis, it’s similar advice that I would give someone if they told me they were interested in starting to grow basil,” said Berris. “And that’s just to give it a try. Cannabis was called a weed for many years because at the end of the day it grows like a weed. It’s a pretty easy plant to grow.”
With the opening of adult use cannabis dispensaries likely more than a year away, Berris expects many Minnesotans will at least try their hand at home cannabis production.
Have you listened to our podcast Northern Lights?
Episode 13 – Dabbing at the Dabbler Depot (with Will Johnston and Cayle Reinhart)
The audio edition of our first video edition of Northern Lights! While you can watch the entire video episode on our YouTube page, you can also listen to hear Marcus, Shana, Steve, and Tanner talk...
Episode 12 – CannaConnections in Minnesota (with Steve Eigenmann)
Marcus and Tanner are back covering some big news in the Minnesota Cannabis industry (and here at the Minnesota Cannabis College)! Rulemaking, county regulations, and recipes for cannabis brownies??...
Episode 11 – The Highway to Big Business (with Jen Reise)
In this high-spirited episode of Northern Lights, Tanner, Marcus, and John delve into the contentious approval of a whopping $10M loan meant to sprout a new cannabis operation in Grand Rapids....