NEW BRIGHTON, Minn. — For Lucky Strains Cannabis Dispensary owners Philly Modlin and his wife, Sarabear Kelly-Modlin, the day they dreamed of finally arrived they received their state license to sell cannabis. But there’s a catch: they can’t sell a single product yet.
“I’m like over the top,” Philly said. “I would be on the roof with a megaphone if I could be.”
The couple opened Lucky Strains in 2022, selling CBD and Delta-9 THC products while waiting for the green light on cannabis sales. It took exactly a year from their application date to get approval. But now, their big celebration is on pause because there’s no stock to sell.
“Unfortunately, now that we are approved, there’s no cannabis to sell,” Sarabear explained. The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management has been warning about this supply gap for months. Interim director Eric Taubel said the state needs between one million and two million square feet of canopy — the area where cannabis plants grow but currently sits at less than 200,000 square feet. This shortage leaves dispensaries like Lucky Strains with no stock for the foreseeable future.
For customers, that means waiting until at least October or November for fully cured products. Even though people have offered to sell homegrown cannabis to the store, strict state tracking rules prevent it.
To ease the shortage, the Office of Cannabis Management is working with tribes and medical marijuana businesses. White Earth Nation, for example, plans to wholesale tribally grown products to the state market. Additionally, medical cannabis providers could convert part of their inventory to adult-use cannabis, creating immediate supply.
This could help stores struggling with no stock stay afloat.
Philly remains optimistic that this extra supply could arrive in a month or two. But until then, they’re networking with other approved businesses, often finding them through social media announcements. Without an official list of licensed growers, dispensaries are left in the dark and with no stock on their shelves.
The supply crisis isn’t just inconvenient; it’s forcing some new businesses to close before they even open. Many took out large leases and invested heavily, assuming cannabis would be available sooner. Now, faced with no stock, they can’t generate revenue to cover costs.
For Lucky Strains, patience is the only option. “It’s frustrating,” Sarabear said, “but we’re grateful to be where we are.” In the emerging Minnesota cannabis market, securing a license is only the first step without reliable supply, even the most prepared dispensary can find itself with no stock to sell.
