White Earth Nation Opens First Cannabis Dispensary Off Reservation Minnesota

The White Earth Nation of Minnesota is set to open cannabis dispensaries off tribal lands for the first time under a historic compact signed with the state government, allowing up to eight dispensaries statewide. This agreement, signed by Governor Tim Walz, is the first of its kind in the U.S. permitting a tribal government to operate cannabis businesses outside reservation boundaries while maintaining regulatory standards that meet or exceed state laws. The compact, a product of a year-long negotiation, emphasizes mutual respect and collaboration, ensuring quality control, a safe marketplace, and clear jurisdictional authority between the tribe and state. The first dispensary, Waabigwan Mashkiki, named after Ojibwe flower medicine, is expected to open in Moorhead, with another planned for St. Cloud. Sales at these dispensaries will be subject to state and local taxes, including a proposed increase in the gross receipts tax on recreational marijuana sales. This development reflects Minnesota's recognition of tribal sovereignty and supports economic opportunities for the White Earth Nation beyond their reservation lands.