Minnesota Governor Signs Historic Agreement with White Earth Nation to Sell Legal Marijuana Outside Reservation
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has signed a groundbreaking agreement with the White Earth Nation, allowing the tribe to operate up to eight retail marijuana stores across the state. The agreement marks a significant milestone, making White Earth Nation the first tribal entity in the state to reach an agreement with the state on selling legal cannabis outside of tribal land.
Under the terms of the compact, the tribe will be allowed to open marijuana cultivation and manufacturing facilities off-reservation and engage in wholesale transactions, transportation, and delivery of cannabis. The tribe will also be responsible for regulating the stores, with the state’s Office of Cannabis Management conducting annual facility inspections and having the authority to take further action if necessary.
The first off-reservation store is expected to open as early as this weekend, with the tribe planning to open additional locations in the coming months. The agreement is seen as a “nation-leading approach to cannabis compacting” by Eric Taubel, interim director of the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management.
The White Earth Nation’s cannabis business, Waabigwan Mashkiki, is already preparing to open storefronts in Moorhead and St. Cloud, with plans to expand to other areas, including Mankato and Rochester.
The agreement is part of a larger trend of tribal nations entering the legal cannabis market. According to the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association, more than a quarter of the 358 federally recognized Indigenous communities in the continental US are involved in some form of cannabis program.
The compact is also seen as a significant step forward for the White Earth Nation, which has been working to develop its cannabis industry for several years. The tribe’s CEO, Zach Wilson, expressed his excitement and pride at being part of this historic moment, saying that it will help set a precedent for the tribal space throughout the country.
The agreement is the latest development in Minnesota’s growing cannabis industry, which has seen significant growth since the state legalized cannabis in 2023. The state’s Office of Cannabis Management is working to establish a regulatory framework for the industry, with the goal of creating a safe and responsible market for cannabis products.
