A Minnesota lawmaker wants to double the number of licensed medical cannabis operators in the state.
Sen. Mark Koran, R-North Branch, introduced legislation March 29 that would allow the Minnesota Department of Health to license at least two more vertically integrated companies in the state, according to a 5 Eyewitness News report.
Currently, Minnesota has two licensed cannabis operators: LeafLine Labs and Vireo Health, which does business as Green Goods in the state.
Koran told 5 Eyewitness News that his proposal could help increase medical cannabis production, promote more competition and drive prices down for patients.
“There could be a lot of benefits to adding two more medical cannabis producers by 2024,” Koran said. “More competition can lead to better prices for patients and then we have to ask ourselves, ‘What does success look like?’ so that we are careful to not dilute the market.”
A new law went into effect on March 1 to allow Minnesota’s medical cannabis patients to access flower, and Dr. Stephen Dahmer, chief medical officer at Green Goods, told 5 Eyewitness News that the company’s average unit price dropped by nearly 30% since the rule change. He added that he does not believe that licensing more medical cannabis operators in the state is necessary at this time.
Nevertheless, Koran’s bill has attracted bipartisan support, 5 Eyewitness News reported, although it has not yet had a committee hearing.