The White Earth Band of Chippewa will be the first tribal nation in Minnesota to open cannabis dispensaries outside of tribal lands under a compact with the state government signed by Democratic Gov. Walz this week. The compact, which allows the White Earth Nation to open cannabis dispensaries throughout the state, was signed by Walz on Tuesday.
Eric Taubel, interim director of the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), said the compact agreement is the first nationwide that allows native American tribal governments to license and operate cannabis dispensaries off tribal lands. Sales of recreational marijuana began at the White Earth Nation’s dispensary on tribal lands in in Mahnomen, Minnesota in 2023, the same year the state legalized cannabis for adults.
“I think it’s a great statement about Minnesota and Minnesota values, and the respect we have for our neighbors, whether it’s a literal next-door neighbor or the nations that we share territory with,” Taubel told MPR News. “It’s an opportunity for tribes to succeed in a sort of marketplace that can drive substantial benefits to their members.”
Taubel also noted that the White Earth Nation is the first tribal government to sign a cannabis compact with the state, which were authorized by Minnesota’s 2023 marijuana legalization law.
“What the compact really tries to do is delineate in a sense who’s doing what and where are they doing it, and then importantly, on top of that, which of the two governments is in charge of regulating those actions when they occur, either on or off tribally regulated lands,” said Taubel.
The compact agreement permits the White Earth Nation to operate up to eight cannabis dispensaries outside of tribal lands. Under the agreement, the dispensaries must be regulated by tribal regulations that meet or exceed the state’s cannabis rules.
New Cannabis Dispensaries Coming To Minnesota Soon
Zach Wilson, CEO of the White Earth Nation’s cannabis enterprise, Waabigwan Mashkiki, said he expects the business to open its first dispensary off tribal lands in Moorhead in the coming week. He added that the business plans to open another dispensary in St. Cloud by the end of June and to continue opening shops throughout the state until the business reaches the limit of eight retailers specified by the compact.
“Very excited to see it come to fruition. It’s just such a historical moment for not only White Earth and the tribes in the state of Minnesota, but really this is going to help set a precedent nationwide of what type of compacts can be drafted, can be negotiated and worked on throughout the country,” said Wilson. “So very proud of the team, for Waabigwan, the White Earth Reservation RBC and tribal council. It's just a very, very humbling, exciting moment.”
Taubel said that Minnesota lawmakers included participation by in the regulated cannabis industry by tribal nations in the 2023 legalization law, which authorizes the governor to negotiate compact agreements with tribal governments.
“We also set forth one of the key elements that the state sought in these compact negotiations, which is a uniformity of standards and uniformity of experience for customers and consumers in the marketplace,” said Taubel.
More than half of the tribal nations in Minnesota have developed cannabis enterprises since the state legalized cannabis in 2023. Like the White Earth Nation, several tribes operate dispensaries on their respective lands, including Red Lake Nation, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Prairie Island Indian Community, Fond du Lac Band and Lower Sioux Indian Community.
