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Official release · North America

Dispensary by NativeCare opens on Red Lake Nation reservation

The NativeCare dispensary, owned by the Red Lake Nation, made history on 1 August 2023 by becoming the first dispensary to sell legal, adult-use recreational marijuana in Minnesota.

mn.gov · · 1 min read

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The NativeCare dispensary, owned by the Red Lake Nation, made history on 1 August 2023 by becoming the first dispensary to sell legal, adult-use recreational marijuana in Minnesota. Because the tribal nation operates under its own sovereignty, it was able to launch adult-use sales on the very same day that cannabis use became legal statewide, beating state-licensed dispensaries to market by many months. [1, 2, 3]

Key Facts About NativeCare

  • Location: The original storefront is located at 24400 State Hwy 1, Red Lake, MN 56671.
  • Business Model: It operates as a fully integrated “seed-to-sale” business, meaning the tribe sustainably cultivates, processes, and retails its own cannabis products.
  • Operating Hours: Open Monday through Sunday from 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Major Milestones & Expansion

Since its historic opening on tribal land, the enterprise has expanded significantly: [1]

  • State-Tribal Compact (December 2025): The Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians signed a landmark cooperative agreement with the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management. This allowed them to partner and trade with state-licensed cannabis businesses. [1, 2]
  • Off-Reservation Expansion (Early 2026): Leveraging new legal avenues, Red Lake Nation became one of the first tribes to open adult-use dispensaries off reservation land. They opened a prominent NativeCare Twin Cities metro location in West St. Paul, alongside an outlet in Thief River Falls

Official release issued by mn.gov: read the original. Found by Cannabis Law Report.

Information, not legal advice. Check the primary source before relying on it.