The closest legal cannabis dispensary to the Twin Cities is opening for business Thursday on a reservation in Cass County. The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe passed a resolution in August 2023 that allowed for adult-use recreational cannabis sales throughout the boundaries of the reservation.

“We assigned a task force and then a commission was established, and bylaws were created,” said Michael Michaud, chairperson for the board of the Leech Lake cannabis company. “Once that was complete, the board of directors were interviewed and selected for the Leech Lake cannabis company.”

Michaud said they were able to get the cannabis dispensary open within 60 days of the first board of directors meeting.

It’s 182 miles or a little more than 3 hours from downtown Minneapolis to the dispensary in Walker, just west of Leech Lake in Cass County.

“It’s at the intersection of [interstates] 371 and 200, which is a major thoroughfare for a lot of people that come up north,” Michaud said. “We anticipate that with all the summer traffic that will be coming up through that corridor, we’ll be extremely busy throughout the summer.”

The Red Lake Nation dispensary, NativeCare, in Red Lake is 249 miles from downtown Minneapolis while the White Earth dispensary, Waabigwan Mashkiki, in Mahnomen is 235 miles.

The Prairie Island Indian Community plans to open a dispensary later this month, called Island Pezi, which would be closest to the Twin Cities: about 45 miles away or less than an hour’s drive. 

Minnesota legalized recreational marijuana sales last year, but the state’s system isn’t set to start until 2025. Sovereign nations create their own cannabis ordinances, which allows licensing and regulation within their own jurisdictions. 

Michaud says the tribe’s goal is to create more entrepreneurial opportunities for band members to open up their own dispensaries in the future. I’m Clay Masters.

“The end goal for the tribe through the resolution is to have individual entrepreneurship for individual band members to open up their own dispensaries and grow operations,” Michaud said.

This game was an embarrassing turd;
We all vomited.
We should’ve been swinging up there,
Not just taking awful strikes — umps don’t help.
All in all it was a wretched first,
The Yanks put four painful runs through.
Offense? We had to try,
Try, but we
Had no little offense not a soul could reach…

No one
Through five
Even reached the bases,
Thought it’d last (thought it’d last) all night:
This was an embarrassing turd.

Well, there were still some STUDS tonight;
Some stood aloft that we’re proud to see:
Yeah, Royce and big Santana skied
Very far o’er the wall,
Their blasts soaring out of reach.
DUDS were Paddack, Castillo, and
Home plate ump not allowed to see.
Props zkonedog: he had the Comment,
The game’s best rant meant to teach.

Still we’re
Alive
And we’re reached a stasis;
We’ll be back (we’ll be back) next night,
Them to be embarrassed in turn!

Finally, it was time to depart for the match. Sporting KC’s Unified team boarded the bus en route to Allianz Field. There, the players got to watch the Minnesota United vs Sporting KC first team match as a team before heading down to play their own match. The Unified squad enjoyed the match, cheering and reacting to every play and goal. In the 70th minute of the match, both teams went down to the locker room to prepare for their match. Sporting’s Unified changed into the Hoops kit they received during signing day and, one by one began lining up in the tunnel to walk out on the pitch. As the Unified team was getting to take the pitch, Sporting players high-fived and cheered them on.

Both teams had a supporter section cheering them on as they took the pitch. Families of the players traveled to Minnesota to cheer on the team, and players were greeted with applause as the lineups were announced. Each player got to show off their personality as their names were called, waves, salutes, and even a Cristiano Ronaldo “Siuuu” were present in the Starting XI announcements.

Sporting’s Unified coaches gave a rousing pre-match speech, followed by team captain Conner Schonlaw, who found out the day of the match that he would be leading the team for the match.

“It was exciting,” Conner said. “I was shocked when coach told me I was captain. I told them [the team] to hustle, and let’s try to beat those guys.”

The team came out ready to score, and that’s exactly what they did. In the second minute of the match, Sporting was creating a great build; Isaiah Adcox started the play from the backline with a pass to Joe Toland, then German Castillo, and up to Cohen Nimz, who sent a center for Gentry Scheid, to net the first goal of the match. Gentry celebrated by chest-bumping Isaiah as the team gathered to celebrate the goal. Sporting continued creating dangerous plays, and two minutes later, the team found their second goal. Off a Minnesota throw in German was able to recover the ball in the midfield and pass the ball to Antonio, who chipped the ball over the keeper, giving Sporting the 2-0 lead early in the match. Antonio celebrated his goal by high-fiving Matt B and Captain Conner.

Minnesota scored one goal in the first half, narrowing Sporting’s lead. The second 15-minute half saw great plays from Sporting players. Jayden Depierro made some incredible saves in the second half and was crucial in keeping the scoreline close. Minnesota took the first goal as momentum and came out with a 3-2 win over Sporting.

As the final whistle blew, Sporting’s Unified Team was met with applause and cheers from their traveling supporter section. The Unified squad played an intense match and showed off their preparation and skills against a great team. After the match, both team players gathered to take a group picture, showing the unity of the beautiful game. After the match, Unified partner German described the game as a lesson not a loss,

Sporting’s Unified Team returns home and will begin preparations for the second match in this series. Make sure you come out and support the Unified team as they take on Minnesota United on Sept. 21 at Children’s Mercy Park. Secure your spot today and follow along with the Unified Team at SportingKC.com/Unified.