Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) last week approved his first bills of the year’s legislative session, including a measure to allow Minnesota hemp businesses to continue using out-of-state testing laboratories through May 31, 2027.
Walz did not comment on the slate of bills individually but said in a statement that some of the bills signed would allow “small businesses a little more stability.”
According to the governor’s bill summary, the extension is required as the state has “limited in-state testing capacity” for hemp products and allowing testing by out-of-state labs “prevents backlogs, ensures product availability for consumers, and provides stability for Minnesota businesses as the state’s cannabis market continues to develop.”
Under the extension, Minnesota hemp businesses will be allowed to send their low-potency edibles, flower, and other consumer products to out-of-state labs for testing. The labs must be accredited by the International Organization for Standardization with specific accreditation for cannabis testing.
The bill was approved by lawmakers on March 23 and comes as the state Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) is set to begin accepting applications for low-potency hemp edible licenses on April 1.
OCM Executive Director Eric Taubel said in a statement that testing has caused a “bottleneck in the supply chain” of the state’s hemp industry.
