Minnesota Retailers Ready For Weed, But There’s None To Sell

You can file this story under, "we all saw this coming." Despite having licenses, locations, staff, and security all ready to go, marijuana retailers in Minnesota are left without any actual stock of marijuana to sell.

It has been over two years since Minnesota voted to legalize recreational cannabis. Just last month, the state’s new Office of Cannabis Management issued the first retail licenses, including one for Legacy Cannabis right here in Duluth.

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Minnesota Shops Are Ready, But No Supply

These businesses are literally ready to roll. Storefronts are built out, employees are trained, and security systems are installed. Owners have poured thousands of dollars into preparing for customers eager to legally purchase cannabis. The issue is that there is no product available.

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Advocates warned this might happen. Minnesota law requires all recreational cannabis to be grown in the state, but crops won’t be ready for weeks, and in some cases, months.

Limited Options for Minnesota Dispensaries

Retailers only have a few paths forward. They can purchase from one of the seven state-licensed growers, but the first harvest isn’t expected until fall. Minnesota’s Tribal nations also offer a possible supply, but they are facing their own shortages and lack finalized agreements for distribution to non-tribal stores. Another option is buying from medical cannabis suppliers, which may be licensed soon to provide interim relief.

Until then, dispensary owners are stuck paying rent and staff with no revenue to offset their costs. Jen Swanson, who owns a shop in Fridley, told FOX 9, “By the time we open, we’re going to be so far in the hole, it’s going to take a while to climb out from this.”