Minnesota

Minnesota Cannabis Licensing Lottery Paused by Judge Amidst Equity Dispute

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ST. PAUL, Minn. — A Minnesota judge has put a temporary stop to the state’s cannabis license lottery, originally set for Tuesday, amid ongoing legal challenges. This development delays the planned issuance of permits for cannabis businesses, which were set to begin under a new system purported to foster social equity. Earlier this summer, the state had begun accepting applications from businesses that qualified under its social equity criteria. These businesses were expected to enter a pre-approval stage, giving them a head start before the broader licensing phase rolls out next year. However, the process … Read more

Minnesota Judge Halts Cannabis License Lottery Amid Fairness Lawsuits from Applicants

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ST. PAUL, Minn. — A sudden halt has been placed on Minnesota’s cannabis license lottery following a judicial order triggered by multiple lawsuits from applicants challenging their exclusion from the early approval process. The controversy surrounds the procedures adopted by the state’s new regulatory body, the Office of Cannabis Management, which has been accused of not adequately communicating denials and prematurely pushing forward with the lottery. The complaints arose after the Office announced last week that only about a third of the more than 1,800 hopefuls would progress to the lottery stage where 280 licenses … Read more

Minnesota Judicial District Welcomes New Judges, Strengthening Legal Landscape in Park Rapids and Grand Rapids

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St. Paul, Minnesota — In a significant judicial reshuffling, Clearwater County Attorney Kathryn Lorsbach and Kimberly Wimmer, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of TruStar Federal Credit Union, were appointed to the Ninth Judicial District bench on Thursday. The appointments fill the void left by the retirement of Judge Robert D. Tiffany and Judge Korey Wahwassuck in the districts of Park Rapids and Grand Rapids, respectively. The selection of Lorsbach and Wimmer came after a thorough vetting process by the Minnesota Commission on Judicial Selection, which presented four candidates for consideration. Ultimately, Governor Tim Walz … Read more

Minnesota Election Official Charged for Allowing Unregistered Voters to Cast Ballots

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Nevis, MN — A former head election judge from Nevis, Minnesota, faces legal consequences for allegedly allowing 11 unregistered individuals to vote in a recent election. Timothy Michael Scouton, 64, has been charged with two felony counts linked to election misconduct in Hubbard County, authorities reported. The investigation into the irregularities commenced when Kay Rave, the Hubbard County Auditor, discovered a lack of completed voter registration forms from Badoura Township. According to the county sheriff’s office, another election judge claimed Scouton had instructed them to bypass standard registration procedures and simply have new voters sign … Read more