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CHRONICLING LEGAL CANNABIS IN MINNESOTA

By Matt DeLong

In this week’s Nuggets: The felony drug charge was dismissed, but this White Earth man still can’t sell cannabis; Minnesota weighs legalizing psilocybin mushrooms for therapeutic use; illegal Beezwax products recalled, again; first tribal dispensary opening in Twin Cities metro; Minnesota Court of Appeals hears challenge to Albert Lea vote on cannabis shop registration; Forest Lake’s first cannabis shop owner? The mayor; two more Minnesota tribes sign cannabis compacts with state; the OCM’s road show comes to Duluth today; and a roundup of local government news.

The felony drug charge was dismissed. But this White Earth man still can’t sell cannabis. Todd Thompson says his Mahnomen tobacco shop is “in shambles” after a task force raid and competition from a tribal cannabis store, Jenny Berg reports. Read more.

Minnesota weighs legalizing psilocybin mushrooms for therapeutic use: Minnesota could soon legalize the therapeutic use of psilocybin mushrooms on a small scale, as lawmakers point to emerging research that suggests the psychedelic drug could help treat intractable mental illnesses, Ryan Faircloth reports. Read more. (Gift link.)

Illegal Beezwax products recalled, again: The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management on Thursday issued a consumer advisory and product recall notice for “all flavors of Beezwax brand disposable 2.5-gram vapes and Beezwax 1-gram hemp prerolls” on store shelves across Minnesota. The recall was initiated by the manufacturer, Kooka, after the OCM found the products “contain high amounts of THC which is not disclosed on the label and therefore pose a serious threat to the health of consumers.” Beezwax disposable vapes, which were previously recalled in June, ranged from 55% to 70% Delta-8 THC when tested recently, according to OCM spokesman Josh Collins. Kooka is not licensed to manufacture adult-use cannabis products and has not yet received a lower-potency hemp manufacturer license. The OCM is in the process of converting hemp registrations to licenses, which requires hemp businesses to be in good standing with regulators. OCM Director Eric Taubel told Nuggets that the office has not taken punitive action against Kooka but said product recalls could hurt a company’s ability to get a hemp or cannabis license. 

 “Producing and selling products that don’t meet state standards or violate state law are the exact kind of thing that we currently are and will continue to look at as we’re making licensing decisions around operators,” Taubel said.

First tribal dispensary opening in Twin Cities metro: Red Lake Nation’s cannabis company NativeCare will hold the grand opening of its new recreational marijuana dispensary in West St. Paul on Friday, March 20. The store at 2067 S. Robert St. will be the first tribally owned cannabis retail store to open in the Twin Cities metro area and the third overall to open outside of tribal lands in Minnesota, after White Earth Nation’s Waabigwan Mashkiki dispensaries in Moorhead and St. Cloud. Check the NativeCare website for more information.

Minnesota Court of Appeals hears challenge to Albert Lea vote on cannabis shop registration: “The lawyer representing the city of Albert Lea at the Minnesota Court of Appeals [last week] argued the Albert Lea City Council voted to protect the public health and safety of its residents when it voted not to approve a retail cannabis registration for the owner of The Smoking Tree in July 2025,” Sarah Stultz reports for the Albert Lea Tribune. Read more.

Forest Lake’s first cannabis shop owner? The mayor. “The mayor of Forest Lake and his brother plan to expand the family’s longtime floral business into a new kind of horticulture: cannabis. Blake and Kelly Roberts, the third-generation owners of Lakes Floral Gift & Garden, last year received a preliminary state license and city approval to open what is expected to be the city’s first cannabis dispensary and one of the first in Washington County,” Mary Divine reports for the Pioneer Press. Read more.

Two more Minnesota tribes sign cannabis compacts with state: The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and the Lower Sioux Indian Community this week became the eighth and ninth Minnesota tribal nations to sign cannabis compacts with the state. Like the others, the agreements will allow each tribe to license up to eight off-reservation retail stores, as well as cultivation and manufacturing businesses outside tribal lands. More information about tribal cannabis compacts can be found here. 

OCM road show comes to Duluth today: After stops Thursday in Pine County and Cloquet, Taubel and other OCM officials are set to appear at a “listening session” at Lake Superior College at 3 p.m. Friday. The OCM’s “Connecting with Community” tour is billed as an opportunity to “engage community members in meaningful, face-to-face discussion about the state’s growing adult-use cannabis market and medical cannabis program.” Registration is required. More info here. 

Local government roundup:

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Another one from Chumbly in Chisholm, this time a Sour Crinkle autoflower from Mephisto Genetics. "I'm never disappointed" with this cultivar, Chumbly writes. Thanks for sharing!

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March 14 (Sat.): Bling & Bedazzle Workshop - "Join us in our consumption lounge to make your own custom roach clip or earrings." 2-5 p.m. Grounded Gardens, 45 N. Main St., Hutchinson. More info.

March 15 (Sun.): Light 'Em Up The Bong Show - "A unique and interactive comedy improv experience for Twin Cities comedy and cannabis fans." 7-10 p.m. Hook and Ladder Theater, 3010 Minnehaha Av., Minneapolis. More info.

March 17 (Tue.): OCM Social Equity Mixer: Cannabis Capital Readiness - "Join us for a panel discussion and networking mixer designed to help cannabis entrepreneurs explore funding options and connect with community resources." 4-6 p.m. Pioneer Bank, Gold and Green Conference Room, 1450 Adams St., Mankato. More info.