Recreational Marijuana Is Now Legal In Minnesota

The possession and home cultivation of recreational marijuana by adults are now legal in Minnesota following the approval of legislation to legalize adult-use cannabis by state lawmakers less than three months ago. Sales of recreational pot at state-licensed dispensaries are more than a year away, however, although at least two Native American communities plan to be the first jurisdictions to regulate sales of recreational marijuana in Minnesota starting this month.

On May 30, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill legalizing recreational marijuana, joining 22 other U.S. states that have legalized cannabis for adults. The cannabis legalization bill, which was approved by the Minnesota legislature on May 20, allows adults 21 and older to use marijuana recreationally and to possess up to two ounces of cannabis in a public place, beginning on August 1.

The legislation also legalizes the possession of up to two pounds of marijuana in a private residence and the limited home cultivation of cannabis by adults aged 21 and older. Under the legislation, adults would be allowed to grow up to eight cannabis plants at home, including four mature, flowering plants.

Minnesota’s marijuana legalization bill also legalizes commercial cannabis activity, with regulated sales of recreational marijuana coming after rules are drafted and approved by the Office of Cannabis Management, a new state agency created by the legislation. The new agency will also regulate medical marijuana and cannabis products derived from hemp.

State agencies have set a target date of May 2024 to begin accepting applications for adult-use cannabis retailers, according to a report from Minnesota Public, with dispensary sales of recreational marijuana anticipated to start in January 2025. Once regulated sales of recreational marijuana begin, adults will be permitted to purchase up to two ounces of cannabis, eight grams of cannabis concentrate and edible products containing up to 800 milligrams of THC, the cannabis compound largely responsible for the classic marijuana “high.”

Native American Tribes Will Launch Recreational Pot Sales This Month

Although sales of recreational marijuana are not expected to begin at state-licensed dispensaries until 2025, Minnesotans will still have the opportunity to buy pot at regulated dispensaries without crossing state lines, as at least two Native American tribal nations plan to open cannabis retail shops this month. In mid-July, the Red Lake Nation in northwestern Minnesota announced that its tribal-operated medical marijuana provider NativeCare would begin selling recreational cannabis as soon as the state’s legalization bill goes into effect on August 1. According to tribal leaders, the enterprise will sell limited quantities of regulated cannabis to adults aged 21 and up beginning on Tuesday, August 1.

“Our intention is to be a good partner and ultimately fill the void for people who intend to use cannabis,” Red Lake tribal secretary Sam Strong told the Star Tribune on July 13. “Our goal is to provide a highly regulated, tested product.”

Last week, the White Earth Nation Tribal Council voted to legalize recreational marijuana, with sales of cannabis beginning at a dispensary on its tribal lands expected to begin in the first half of August. White Earth Chairman Michael Fairbanks said that selling cannabis grown on the reservation, also in northwestern Minnesota, represents a significant opportunity for the tribe. He expects the enterprise to be able to produce high-quality cannabis and sell for prices that are lower than the coming competition.

“It’s good not just for our constituents, but it’s good for all Minnesotans,” Fairbanks said in a statement to the Minnesota Reformer.

The citizens of White Earth Nation voted in 2020 to legalize medical marijuana and planned to open its dispensary in Mahnomen, about 35 miles north of Detroit Lakes, to patients on Monday. Sales of recreational marijuana to tribal members and non-members aged 21 and up are slated to begin shortly thereafter.

But the tribal dispensaries selling recreational marijuana will not be convenient for most Minnesotans. The reservations for both Ojibwe tribes are not near the state’s largest population centers, requiring a drive of more than three hours from Duluth and four hours or more from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.