Minnesota Updates Its Cannabis Law
September 3, 2025 | Scott M. Hagel
Minnesota recently updated its cannabis law, adding a number of changes regarding business licensing, the lower-potency hemp edible (LPHE) industry, and medical cannabis. The changes were introduced in Senate File (SF) 2370, which was approved by Governor Tim Walz and became effective May 24, 2025. Many of the changes were recommended by the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), which was established in 2023. Below, we’ll summarize the key changes in the new law. Cannabis Business Licensing Changes The cannabis market has gotten off to a slow start in Minnesota since adult-use cannabis was legalized in 2023. Many of the changes in the new law aim to help cannabis businesses launch. Testing facility licenses: Testing facilities are necessary to ensure cannabis products’ safety before selling them to consumers. The new law allows OCM to issue a cannabis testing facility license to an applicant while their laboratory accreditation is pending. This will allow testing facilities to open more quickly, ensuring there are enough facilities to meet the demand of retailers. Local registration: Similarly, local governments can now issue retail registrations to applicants with preliminary approval, streamlining the launch process for cannabis businesses. Application process: The cannabis business application process has also been simplified, including the removal of duplicative application requirements and officer signatures. Social equity…
Read MoreMississippi River Fishing in August is Unpredictable
August 15, 2025 | Scott M. Lepak2025 has been a strange year for fishing the Mississippi River in Minnesota. The water level has been unusually high in August, making it more challenging to find fish. The water this year is also unusually brown, with sediment from the frequent rain making the Big Muddy nickname a good fit this year even late in the fishing season. BGS fishing partners Bill Huefner and Scott Lepak added to the unpredictability by selecting a Saturday when rain was lurking to the south and a full moon was waiting to add chaos that evening. This was offset by the fact that the wildfire smoke was nonexistent for the day and Bill and Scott were coming off a lucky streak. Bill’s Friday attendance at the Lynx game produced a win and Scott’s attendance led to a win by the Twins. Adding to their optimism was their regular, late-season, ace Mississippi smallmouth bass guide Tommy Steffen, who indicated that the bite has been pretty good. “Pretty good” in guide speak means “run as fast as you can to the boat.” After a burger and beer strategy session at an undisclosed local watering hole (fishing veterans never give away their best fishing or bar locations), Bill and Scott met Tommy and jumped onto the river. Bill and Scott have been fishing…
Read MoreBarna, Guzy & Steffen, LTD. Announces New Shareholder
July 29, 2025 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.
The law firm of Barna, Guzy & Steffen, LTD. announces that Bobbi Hermanson-Albers was voted in as a Shareholder. Bobbi is a 2014 cum laude graduate of Hamline University School of Law. Before joining BGS, Bobbi worked as a family lawyer at a boutique Minneapolis area law firm and as a Judicial Law Clerk in the Tenth Judicial District with Judge B. William Ekstrum. Bobbi joined Barna, Guzy & Steffen in 2019 in our Estate Planning department. Today, Bobbi focuses her practice on estate planning, tax planning, long-term care planning, probate court proceedings, estate and trust administration, and guardianship and conservatorship proceedings. Actively involved in the community, Bobbi holds leadership roles on professional associations related to her practice. She is the Secretary for the Minnesota State Bar Association Elder Law Governing Council and active with the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys-Minnesota Chapter, Board of Directors as Secretary, Education Committee. The firm would like to congratulate Bobbi on her accomplishments and commitment to the mission of providing clients legal service with trust, dedication and professionalism. BGS believes these ingredients are the essence of integrity, and it strives to nurture these values within the firm. For more than 85 years, the attorneys at Barna, Guzy & Steffen have been committed to providing comprehensive legal…
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