A case challenging how the Office of Cannabis Management handled social equity license applications moves next to the state Co­­urt of Appeals. The court on Wednesday directed the state

The lottery’s postponement, however long it may be, delays the start of plant cultivation. That could lead to less supply for retailers when the market opens next year.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A Ramsey County judge on Monday halted a planned lottery to award the first cannabis licenses on Tuesday, a setback for state regulators as they ramp up towards legal sales next year.

By Dana Ferguson A planned lottery to give some would-be cannabis business owners a licensing head start won’t go forward early this week after a judge halted the process Monday. Ramsey County District Court Judge Stephen Smith sided with a group of applicants who had been denied access to the social equity pre-approval lottery.

The Office of Cannabis Management is facing pushback this week after it rejected more than 1,100 applicants it deemed ineligible for the first round of business licenses.

A judge has ordered Minnesota to pause its cannabis license lottery amid lawsuits brought by applicants who were denied a chance at a license.

The Minnesota Court of Appeals is asking state regulators for more information about how they determined eligibility for the state’s first cannabis license lottery. Several social equity applicants hoping to get one of the preapproval licenses sued after the Office of Cannabis Management denied their applications.

Rejected social equity license applicants have sued, arguing the process was unclear and had no opportunity for appeal.

A Ramsey County judge’s decision to delay the lottery could affect the launch of Minnesota’s retail marijuana market.

Minnesota’s first cannabis lottery will not happen as scheduled on Tuesday morning. A judge granted a temporary pause after several people filed lawsuits claiming they were unfairly excluded. The state seemed to be moving really slowly since legalization last year,

The move comes after a district court judge this week blocked a state lottery to choose which social equity applicants would be pre-licensed to start up cannabis businesses.