Pending compacts between Gov. Tim Walz and 10 of the state's 11 tribal nations would allow tribal governments to license businesses to become significant players in the cannabis market with off-reservation stores, cultivation and manufacturing.
The compact negotiations, directed by the 2023 law that legalized recreational cannabis in Minnesota, could give a large share of the new industry to tribal nations and businesses they license. These enterprises would be exempt from rules against vertical integration facing non-tribal businesses that prevent them from having retail, cultivation and manufacturing under one company.
The closed-door compact talks were first reported by MinnPost last May. MinnPost obtained a copy of the pending compact language on Tuesday, and the Office of Cannabis Management acknowledged the overall aim of the negotiations.
Spokesperson Josh Collins said in a statement that the new law envisioned "a robust, diverse marketplace with room for social equity applicants, Tribal businesses, and general applicants.
Read more at MinnPost