Minnesota
Minnesota’s social equity cannabis lottery postponed to late spring
The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management Wednesday announced it was canceling the special license lottery for social equity applicants and will instead move toward a lottery next year for both social equity and general applicants.
While no new date is set for license lotteries, a chart released by OCM suggests it will now be in May or June, months later than previous estimates of 1st quarter of 2025.
The office said it was responding to a Ramsey County court order late last month that put the lottery on hold to give disappointed applicants who were denied entry into that first lottery time to make their case to the court of appeals. At least eight legal actions have been filed with the appeals court seeking review of their cases. A ninth comes from successful lottery entrants who ask the court to let the lottery proceed soon.
Among those denied who have asked for relief from the appeals court is a group that OCM asserts is violating laws against multiple applicants for licenses and so-called straw applicants, that is applicants who are fronts for others.
“I don’t want to sugar coat this,” said OCM interim director Charlene Briner during a Wednesday press conference. “The 648 social equity applicants who qualified and were expecting to participate in the lottery are understandably disappointed.”
“To avoid further delay and risks to social equity, OCM is ending the license preapproval process and moving forward with opening a standard licensing cycle for both social equity and general applicants beginning early next year,” the agency said in a press release. “This step allows the office to prevent delays to the market launch due to ongoing litigation and retain some benefit to social equity by allowing applicants for license preapprovals to move into this new round.
“Leaving these applicants in limbo is not an acceptable outcome and would diminish their opportunity to succeed in the market.”
There are still advantages given in state law to what are called social equity applicants — military veterans, people who suffered from cannabis prohibition, and people who live in neighborhoods with high levels of enforcement. There are still license set asides for social equity applicants and grant money aimed at these potential businesses. But the so-called “early mover advantage” that was to come from the Nov. 26 lottery goes away. Early mover was meant to give some licensees certainty that they would win a license so they could get buildings, local permissions and financing in place before the launch in spring.
Other than on tribal reservations, no cannabis sales can happen until final rules are adopted, the lottery held, licenses issued and the official opening of the state cannabis market.
Sometime in late spring there will be two lotteries — one for social equity applicants and a subsequent lottery for general applicants. Briner said she expects the two lotteries will be held within days of each other. Some 500 licenses in capped categories such as cultivators, mezzobusinesses and manufacturers will be awarded in the social equity lottery and an equal number in the general lottery.
Put at risk by the cancellation of the preapproval process was a hope by legislators to allow some preapproval licensees to begin growing cannabis so a supply would be ready when stores open sometime in the spring.
“The delays related to the court’s order to pause the lottery eliminate any early-mover advantages offered by the expedited license preapproval process envisioned by the Legislature,” the OCM statement said. “Therefore, the lawsuits brought by some unsuccessful applicants necessitate moving directly to the licensing cycle for both social equity and general applicants.”
Said Briner: “Our path forward ensures we remain on track to launch Minnesota’s new cannabis market and also preserves some of the social equity benefits that were at the heart of the preapproval process and that are foundational to the law as it was originally conceived.”
The agency said it would notify the 648 applicants who survived a process that confirmed their status as social equity applicants and examined the basics of their proposed businesses that their applications will automatically move forward. Some licenses are capped by state law while others are not. The smallest businesses — so-called microbusiness licensees who can both grow and sell cannabis — are not capped.
OCM will hold a social equity lottery to award those set-aside licenses and then include non-winners in the subsequent general lottery.
“OCM will also communicate with all applicants who received denial notices about the options available to them,” the statement said. “These applicants will have the opportunity to move forward in the general licensing cycle — which includes a lottery and licenses reserved specifically for social equity applicants for certain license types — or they may choose to discontinue their participation in the next cycle and request a refund of their application fee.”
At the Court of Appeals, nine actions have been filed so far — eight seeking to force OCM to allow prospective social equity license holders to be included in the lottery and one asking the court to allow the lottery to take place with the current qualifiers.
The actions seeking court orders known as writs of certiorari ask the court of appeals to review the decision of the Ramsey County district court that blocked the lottery but did not rule on the underlying legal issues. Those were whether OCM followed state law in how it selected and rejected applicants for the first social equity license lottery that was to be held Nov. 26.
Another action is being brought by applicants who were successful in gaining entry to the lottery who claim they are being harmed by the district court’s stay of the lottery. Without it, and unless it happens soon, the advantages state law gives to social equity applicants will be reduced, if not eliminated.
“The preapproval lottery was designed to ensure the most operationally ready social equity applicants could overcome systemic barriers and lead the market’s development,” said Leili Fatehi, a spokesperson for the plaintiffs.
“By halting this process, the court’s decision harms those applicants, disrupts market stability, and delays efforts to combat illicit markets.” The action was filed before OCM’s announcement Wednesday to cancel the preapproval process.
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Minnesota
Caribou Coffee in Minnesota launches value menu
How much should you tip when you go out.
If you’re heading out to a restaurant, bar or coffee shop you may leave a tip. Here’s some advice on how much to give.
Caribou Coffee, a coffeehouse known for its handcrafted beverages made with real ingredients, is rolling out a new value menu at participating locations nationwide.
Beginning May 7, a company release stated, Caribou Coffee is serving Caribou Everyday Value Menu items, including to-go favorites and barista-made beverages.
The Everyday Value Menu features a curated lineup of Caribou classics now offered at prices starting at $2, the release stated. Guests will be able to enjoy signature items such as a small, specialty-grade brewed coffee, streusel-topped blueberry muffins and Caribou’s Cold Press, its version of cold-brewed coffee.
The value menu also introduces a new a bacon breakfast sandwich. It features crispy bacon, a cage-free scrambled egg patty and melted cheddar cheese layered on a toasted English muffin for $4. These prices are before tax.
“For many of our guests, their daily coffee ritual is a meaningful part of their day, and we know how much it matters that it delivers on quality, convenience and value,” Matt Reiter, chief commercial and strategy officer for Caribou said in a release. “At Caribou, we’re committed to creating a consistent, high-quality experience every time someone walks into one of our coffeehouses, with a range of options that fit into their day. The Everyday Value Menu expands the ways we do that and creates even more flexibility and value for guests.”
Caribou’s Everyday Value Menu includes:
- $2 small brewed coffee: A rotating selection of regular and seasonal coffees, brewed every hour to ensure maximum freshness
- $3 Blueberry Muffin: A blueberry muffin topped with streusel
- $3.50 small Cold Press coffee: Caribou’s cold brew coffee served over ice
- $4 Bacon Breakfast Sandwich: Crispy bacon, cage-free scrambled egg patty and melted cheddar cheese layered on a toasted English muffin
Caribou is also offering non-dairy customization at no extra charge, the release stated. Also, the Caribou Perks loyalty program allows guests to earn points with every Caribou purchase. These points are redeemable for free handcrafted beverages, bakery items and more.
Guests can order items from the Everyday Value Menu in-store, at the drive-thru and through the Caribou Coffee app for pickup or delivery.
Caribou Coffee serves handcrafted beverages and food items in more than 800 coffeehouses worldwide. It opened its first location in 1992. Focused on smart growth, the coffee shop operates and franchises coffeehouses across 11 countries.
Caribou Coffee locations in central Minnesota
- 2423 Division Street West, St. Cloud
- 4135 W. Division Street, St. Cloud
- 2510 W. Division St., St. Cloud
- 310 Lincoln Ave., St. Cloud
- 900 Cooper Ave. S, St. Cloud
- 201 Second Ave. S, Cold Spring
- 18157 Carson Court, Elk River
- 19425 Evans St. NW, Elk River
- 324 Lowell Ave. NW, Elk River
- 533 12th St. S, Sauk Centre
- 701 Third Ave. NE, Buffalo
- 800 Hwy 55 E, Buffalo
- 630 Ryans Way, Buffalo
- 110 First St. S, Sauk Rapids
- 880 18th St. NW, Sauk Rapids
- 2319 First St. S, Willmar
- 620 First St. S, Willmar
- 12495 Fifth Ave. N, Zimmerman
- 703 Northland Drive, Princeton
- 1500 Elm St. East, St. Joseph
- 520 Jefferson Blvd. NW, Big Lake
- 705 County Road 75 NW, Clearwater
- 1725 Pine Cone Road S, Sartell
- 113 S. Waite Ave., Waite Park
Minnesota
3M faces new lawsuit over ‘forever chemicals’ pollution in Minnesota
3M PFAS documentary: What the company knew about PFAS
The 3M Company has vowed to stop manufacturing PFAS chemicals by the end of 2025. The FOX 9 Investigators reviewed hundreds of hours of video depositions that shed new light on how company executives and scientists responded after first learning about the widespread contaminations.
(FOX 9) – The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is taking 3M back to court, saying the company hasn’t done enough to stop PFAS pollution in local water.
Minnesota sues 3M for ongoing PFAS contamination
What we know:
The MPCA filed the lawsuit May 1, alleging that 3M is responsible for ongoing groundwater and surface water contamination, including industrial and stormwater discharges into the Mississippi River near its Cottage Grove facility.
In its argument, the state says some locations tested for PFAS showed concentrations as high as 310,000 parts per trillion, far above the state standard. The agency claims that although the specific site “does not routinely discharge to surface waters,” a heavy rainfall could lead to contamination entering the river.
The MPCA also alleges that 3M has not completed required cleanup work under a 2022 order and that its groundwater extraction system is not sufficient.
Minnesota previously sued 3M over PFAS, resulting in a 2018 settlement where the company paid $850 million to help clean up drinking water in the east metro. In 2024, 3M also agreed to pay $10.3 billion over 13 years to address PFAS in drinking water systems nationwide.
3M settlement water projects
Minnesota-based 3M is required to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to clean up PFAS-contaminated drinking water in the Twin Cities after the company dumped chemical waste in the east metro for decades. But with money from a 2018 settlement agreement running out, the company is now pushing back on whether all of those projects are reasonable and necessary.
Dig deeper:
In the lawsuit, the state is seeking civil penalties of up to $30,000 per violation per day, as well as increased cleanup efforts and compensation for damage to wildlife and natural resources.
A full copy of the complaint can be found below:
3M responds to lawsuit
The other side:
In its own court filing, 3M argues that some of the PFAS pollution came from testing firefighting foam made for the U.S. military, following Department of Defense requirements. The company says it warned the federal government about PFAS risks and should not be held responsible for contamination tied to military work.
3M wants the case moved from state to federal court, saying the environmental damage cited by the state is linked to its role as a government contractor.
The company stated it completed its planned exit from all PFAS manufacturing at the end of 2025.
The Source: Information provided by Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and 3M court filings.
Minnesota
Minnesota Senate approves bills to rein in ICE agents
Anti-ICE demonstrators protest outside St. Cloud-area hotels. See video
Protesters on Jan. 12 voiced frustrations about Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents being in St. Cloud by protesting outside local hotels.
The Minnesota Senate on Monday approved a package of bills aimed at reining in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers after more than 3,000 federal agents descended on Minnesota for what the Department of Homeland Security called its largest immigration enforcement operation ever.
Swarming groups of federal agents racially profiled and arrested people in the streets during Operation Metro Surge, which ignited massive resistance and resulted in the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two U.S. Citizens.
“All we want are safe communities and the fair treatment under the law,” said Sen. Ron Latz, DFL-St. Louis Park, and chief author of the bill package. “The way ICE agents and Border Patrol agents went about (immigration) enforcement was an absolute abuse of our Constitution. It contravened our constitutional principles. It was without warrants. It was stopping people without lawful basis. It was arresting people without probable cause. It just crossed so many constitutional lines.”
The Minnesota Senate is controlled by Democrats, who have made Operation Metro Surge recovery and accountability a top issue. The Minnesota House is deadlocked between Republicans and Democrats, and Republicans have largely opposed Operation Metro Surge-related bills this session. The legislative session ends on Sunday.
The bill passed 34-33 in the Senate with no Republican votes.
The package includes a bill to allow Minnesotans to sue federal agents in state court if their constitutional rights are violated.
For much of American history, people have had the ability to sue federal agents, but the U.S. Supreme Court has rolled back that precedent. The high court has suggested that only Congress can authorize lawsuits seeking money from federal officials.
Some legal scholars believe state legislatures, too, can authorize lawsuits against federal officials for violating the Constitution. The Illinois Legislature last year passed such a law, and the Trump administration promptly sued, arguing the Constitution’s supremacy clause limits states from enacting policies that conflict with federal law.
The Trump administration has said that federal agents have “absolute immunity” if they are conducting immigration enforcement. Legal experts say that immunity doesn’t extend to unreasonable or excessive use of force. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty charged one ICE officer with assault for allegedly brandishing a weapon and is weighing charges against the agents who killed Pretti and Good.
The package of bills also includes banning law enforcement from wearing face masks, and it creates a “civil right of action” in shootings in which a person can be held civilly liable if they shoot someone and fail to provide aid to the victim.
It also prohibits federal immigration agents from schools, hospitals, childcare centers and courthouses.
Senate Republicans say the package would cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in potential litigation because the state will likely be sued. States cannot regulate immigration law, and Republicans argue the bill package does just that.
Minnesota Reformer is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
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