Minnesota inks third tribal-state marijuana deal, this one with Prairie Island Indian Community

OG article by Josh Skluzacek

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed the third tribal-state cannabis compact with the Prairie Island Indian Community on Monday, allowing the tribe to open and operate up to eight off-reservation marijuana dispensaries, similar to prior agreements with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and the White Earth Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.

The compact permits one retail location per city and three per county, building on the tribe's existing on-reservation dispensary, Island Peži, near Treasure Island in Welch, north of Red Wing.

Prairie Island Indian Community Tribal Council President Grant Johnson expressed gratitude for the deal, highlighting the tribe's disciplined systems for safe cannabis operations, modeled after over 40 years of successful tribal gaming regulation, to meet demand in Minnesota's growing recreational market.

The agreement occurs amid supply shortages and frustrations for other recreational cannabis businesses in the state, with Minnesota's Office of Cannabis Management continuing negotiations with the remaining eight of 11 sovereign tribal nations, expecting more deals soon.