Press Release: Governor Walz signs cannabis cooperative agreement with Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians

“This partnership opens a new outlet for state-licensed cannabis businesses to access and sell legal cannabis and honors the independence of the members of the Red Lake Band,” said OCM Executive Director Eric Taubel. “We look forward to their cooperation in bringing more cannabis supply to the state and seeing their cannabis operations develop and thrive while respecting the Red Lake Band’s autonomy.”  

In Minnesota’s cannabis law, the state Legislature directed the governor to negotiate intergovernmental agreements with Tribal Nations sharing territory with Minnesota to strengthen public health and safety, secure an equitable and well-regulated cannabis market, and provide financial benefits to both the state and Tribal Nations.  

The Red Lake Band’s NativeCare dispensary—located on the Red Lake Nation—was the first in the state to sell legal, adult-use cannabis after the law legalizing cannabis took effect in August 2023. With this agreement in place, the Red Lake Band is able to collaborate with state-licensed cannabis businesses, creating partnerships that will benefit both the state and the Tribal Nation. 

“I am pleased to report that the Red Lake Nation has reached agreement with Governor Walz over the terms of our cannabis cooperative agreement. The Red Lake Nation is eager to share our top tier cannabis and cannabis products with the Minnesota market,” said Darrell G. Seki, Sr., Chairman of the Red Lake Nation. “When state cannabis laws were loosened in 2023, the Red Lake Nation’s Native Care dispensary was the first dispensary to open in Minnesota. Over the past five years, we have been perfecting unique strains of cannabis in our premiere growing facilities at the Red Lake Nation. Our goal from the beginning has been to produce the highest quality cannabis products that are free of all toxins and impurities. Consistent testing has verified that we have reached our goal. Now that our cooperative agreement with the state has been finalized, we are looking forward to sharing our top shelf products with the Minnesota market.” 

As with all executed agreements between the state and Tribal Nations regarding cannabis, the cooperative agreement between the Red Lake Band and the state contains commitments to put public health and safety first through product testing, data gathering, and analysis, ensuring consistency for customers throughout Minnesota's cannabis market.    

Compact negotiations continue between the state and Tribal Nations sharing territory with the state of Minnesota. To date, the state has signed compacts with the White Earth Nation, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, the Prairie Island Indian Community, the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. The state expects to announce additional Tribal-state cannabis agreements soon.   

Copies of signed, executed Tribal-state cannabis compacts and cooperative agreements can be found on OCM’s website.