In a landmark moment for both tribal sovereignty and Minnesota’s growing cannabis industry, the White Earth Nation has officially opened its first off-reservation cannabis dispensary in Moorhead on May 23, 2025. A second location is already in the works and is expected to launch this summer in St. Cloud.
The White Earth Nation’s cannabis venture operates under the name Wabigwan Mashkiki, which means "medicine flower" in the Ojibwe language. Their first location, based on tribal land, opened in August 2023, offering adult-use cannabis to the public. The expansion off-reservation marks a significant step forward—not just for business, but for tribal-state relations and economic sovereignty.
This move was made possible through a first-of-its-kind compact between the White Earth Nation and the State of Minnesota, a pioneering agreement that establishes a formal relationship for operating legal cannabis businesses off tribal land.
“It’s a very complicated process,” explained Mitch Chargo, White Earth’s legal counsel. “You have two sovereign powers negotiating how to transact something the state says is legal, but the federal government still doesn’t.”
Chargo emphasized that the compact is not a concession or favor, but a nation-to-nation framework grounded in mutual respect and strategic partnership. “This isn’t a handout,” he said. “It’s a chance for two sovereign powers to work together.”
The agreement sets a precedent for how tribal nations and states can collaborate in emerging markets like cannabis, especially when federal policy remains inconsistent. For tribal nations like White Earth, the benefits go beyond business—they represent economic opportunity, self-determination, and community empowerment.
White Earth Chairman Michael Fairbanks echoed those sentiments in a Facebook post, calling the Moorhead opening a “proud moment for our community, honoring tradition and embracing the future.”
The new dispensary is expected to attract residents from across northwestern Minnesota and North Dakota, offering quality, regulated cannabis products while also spotlighting Native entrepreneurship.
As Minnesota’s cannabis landscape evolves, the White Earth Nation’s bold steps may serve as a model for other tribes and states looking to navigate the complex intersections of tribal rights, state law, and federal policy. With Wabigwan Mashkiki now open in Moorhead—and St. Cloud soon to follow—the future looks bright for cannabis, culture, and sovereignty.
