Those wanting to grow and process hemp in Minnesota in 2025 must apply for a license with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) by April 30. Each license is valid only through December 31 of the year it is issued. Licensees must reapply annually to remain in the program. A license from the MDA is required for individuals and businesses.
To date, about 50 people have applied for a 2025 MDA license. In 2024, there were 183 applicants.
These licenses are for growing and processing industrial hemp only. The hemp grower or processor application is not for the growth or sale of adult-use or medical cannabis. The application is also not intended for the sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid products. Adult-use and medical cannabis information can be found on the Office of Cannabis Management website.
The industrial hemp application can be found on the MDA website. Along with the online form, first-time applicants and authorized representatives need to submit fingerprints and pass a criminal background check.
For 2025, growers and processors need to be aware of several key regulatory requirements. Firstly, all authorized representatives designated by the applicant must pass a criminal history background check before a license can be issued. Additionally, every lot of hemp grown requires pre-harvest THC regulatory testing, with each official regulatory sample collected by the MDA costing $100. The MDA will continue to license processors that handle raw hemp and initially process it through methods such as extraction, decortication, devitalization, crushing, or packaging, while also conducting random inspections of processor locations. License fees for both new and returning applicants will remain the same, with an added 5% surcharge to support the modernization of the MDA's technology systems. The minimum cost of a grower license is set at $400, while a processing license starts at $500.