Northern Minnesota Business Pioneers New Era In Budding Industry

Yesterday marked a huge milestone in a budding industry in Minnesota.

Minnesota's first state-licensed recreational cannabis dispensary opened, standing as the first step in a rollout of the new industry in the state.

Since Minnesota legalized recreational marijuana a couple of years ago, customers have largely had to wait. While many retailers have begun carrying certain varieties of beverages and edibles, access to flower and some other products has been limited,.

Tribal-operated recreational dispensaries have been opening over the last two years, with the Red Lake Nation opening the state's first in the summer of 2023 and others around the state following suit, including the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa in Tower and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe in Walker.

READ MORE: Do Minnesota Cannabis Businesses Have Hours & Other Rules Like Liquor Stores?

Those dispensaries were able to open without the State of Minnesota's licensing process, with tribal governments able to approve their own licensing for these businesses.

When it comes to businesses approved to operate by the State of Minnesota, a Duluth shop will go down in history as the first to open in the state.

Legacy Cannabis, located in Duluth's Lincoln Park Craft District, officially opened its doors at 4:20 pm on September 16 to welcome customers as the first state-licensed dispensary.

The location has been selling beverages, edibles, and other products for a while now, but getting a cannabis flower supply to offer to customers marks a significant milestone for the business and industry as a whole statewide.

One of the concerns as cannabis businesses have been getting ready to open has been supply as suppliers ramp up production. Legacy Cannabis is reportedly selling products from the White Earth Nation's Waabigwan Mashkiki cannabis business and dispensary, which can be found in Mahnomen

While Legacy Cannabis becomes Minnesota's first licensed cannabis business to open, it is sure to be followed soon by several others. As of this week, 37 licenses have been approved by Minnesota's Office of Cannabis Management.

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Duluth's store is one of several businesses that have been open for some time now, offering other products. Duluth's Legacy Cannabis is just among the first to get a supply of cannabis to offer to customers. Several others are getting open this week around the state as well, including businesses in the Twin Cities, Rochester, and St. Cloud.

As more of these licensed businesses are able to acquire supplies of cannabis, Minnesota is likely to see more options for recreational cannabis users.