Latest news with #WhiteEarthNation
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Moorhead, St. Cloud getting retail cannabis stores from White Earth Nation tribal company
The Brief White Earth Nation announced its tribally-owned cannabis company, Waabigwan Mashkiki, will open off-reservation retail stores in Moorhead and St. Cloud. The stores will be the first tribal cannabis enterprise shops in the state to operate off-reservation under the new compact. Grand opening dates have not yet been announced. WHITE EARTH, Minn. (FOX 9) - Waabigwan Mashkiki, which directly translates to "flower medicine" in Ojibwe, will open cannabis shops in Moorhead and St. Cloud after the White Earth Nation announced the signing of a "landmark cannabis regulatory compact with the State of Minnesota." READ MORE: Minnesota tribes may soon create cannabis businesses off reservations Big picture view Waabigwan Mashkiki is a tribally-owned cannabis company that will be the first tribal cannabis enterprise shop in Minnesota to operate off-reservation, according to a news release from the White Earth Nation. Opening dates have not yet been announced. White Earth Nation officials said the compact was authorized under Minnesota's 2023 adult-use cannabis law and allows the tribe to run cannabis businesses statewide. The agreement states that oversight will be run by the Minnesota Office of Management, but the tribe's jurisdiction and sovereignty will still be honored. Tribal officials say one of the stores is set to open in the Fargo-Moorhead metro area with the goal of providing "safe, legal cannabis to western Minnesota." The other store will open in St. Cloud and focus on "education, harm reduction, and responsible use." What they're saying The Office of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said the law will enhance public health and safety, ensure a lawful and well-regulated cannabis market, encourage economic development and provide financial benefits to both the state and Tribal Nations. Waabigwan Mashkiki CEO released a statement saying "This is a proud moment for The White Earth Reservation. The ability to open stores in cities like Moorhead and St. Cloud, means we can bring White Earth's mission of healing and wellness to a broader community while asserting sovereign rights and building sustainable economic futures for the people of White Earth." Chairman of the White Earth Reservation Business Committee Michael Fairbanks said "Waabigwan Mashkiki is more than a business — it is a reflection of our values as Anishinaabe people. This compact shows what's possible when tribal sovereignty is respected and supported. We are leading this effort not only for economic development, but for the health, healing, and future of our people." The Source This story uses information shared by the White Earth Reservation Business Committee and past FOX 9 reporting.
Forbes
21-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Minnesota's White Earth Nation To Open Cannabis Shops Off Tribal Lands
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. 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.
CBS News
21-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
White Earth Nation gets approval to open cannabis shops off tribal land
Tribal nation gets green light to open cannabis dispensaries across Minnesota Tribal nation gets green light to open cannabis dispensaries across Minnesota Tribal nation gets green light to open cannabis dispensaries across Minnesota An agreement between the state of Minnesota and White Earth Nation gives the tribal nation the green light to open cannabis dispensaries across the state. On Tuesday, Gov. Tim Walz signed the first tribal-state compact authorized under Minnesota's 2023 cannabis law. According to Minnesota's Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), the agreement allows the White Earth Nation to open up to eight dispensaries outside of Tribal lands. OCM says sales of cannabis products off tribal lands are subject to all state and local taxes. The 2023 law greenlit recreational marijuana with a gross receipts tax of 10% on sales at licensed businesses. A budget agreement announced May 15 would raise it to 15%. The approved tax hike would be in addition to the state sales tax rate of 6.975% and any local sales taxes. This applies to low-dose, THC edibles derived from hemp, too. White Earth Nation has plans for locations in Moorhead and St. Cloud. OCM says with the compact signed, tribal dispensaries can open their doors to the public.
