Readers asked us what the Leech Lake Band's cannabis store was selling. Here's what we found out: After receiving inquiries from readers seeking more information about some of the products being sold by the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe’s Sweetest Grass marijuana dispensary, I spent quite a while trying to figure out where the store’s most-expensive cannabis flower came from. I learned some interesting things along the way.

Here are some highlights:

Michael Michaud, board chair of Sweetest Grass' parent company Leech Lake Cannabis Co., said out-of-state hemp companies supply much of Sweetest Grass' top-tier “platinum” cannabis flower. The dispensary’s “gold” strains are supplied by White Earth Nation’s Waabigwan Mashkiki.
The Leech Lake Band's Cannabis Regulatory Commission does not require marijuana sold by Sweetest Grass to be tested for contaminants, according to the tribe’s cannabis regulations, which were provided to me by Leech Lake Band general counsel Christopher Murray. The rules require only that cannabis products be tested in accordance with the standards of the jurisdiction where they were produced.
At least one of the out-of-state products sold by Sweetest Grass isn't allowed to cross state lines under current federal law, according to our testing. The Star Tribune arranged for one of Sweetest Grass’ platinum strains — Gush Mints, which was previously sold by a hemp company in Oregon — to be analyzed for potency by a St. Paul cannabis testing facility, Legend Technical Services. Our results showed it was marijuana, containing nearly four times the allowable amount of Delta-9 THC to be considered hemp.
The lab reports for Gush Mints and other platinum strains provided by Sweetest Grass included no information about safety testing.
None of the four tribes currently operating licensed cannabis businesses in Minnesota have posted online their regulations governing the sale of marijuana.

There's much more in the article. One noteworthy item that didn’t make it into the story: An earlier draft of the Leech Lake Band’s cannabis regulations that was submitted for public comment in February included far more stringent safety testing requirements — the same standards mandated by the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency. After the public comment period ended, the band’s cannabis commission approved an updated version of the regulations with the current testing requirements. Read more. (No paywall.)

Rochester leans toward limiting cannabis business licenses: The Rochester City Council is leaning toward setting the mandatory minimum number of allowable licenses in the community once it's legal to sell cannabis products in March ― about 10 licenses, Trey Mewes reports. City officials brought a number of proposals before council members Monday, ranging from the legal minimum — keeping in line with Minnesota's formula of at least one license for every 12,500 people — to more than the 14-license limit Olmsted County is proposing. Having more licenses would open up the market in town, but it would also cost the city considerably more to enforce the rules. Read more.

A year after legalization, where you can and can’t smoke pot in Minnesota is still a little hazy: “Despite being legal for months, it was still kind of surreal to see people openly smoking marijuana in public recently, and smell the pungent clouds surrounding them. A small crowd of smokers at the Northern Haze Festival puffed on bongs and other glass pipes under a tent in a parking lot on a sweaty Duluth Saturday in early July. … Events like this one are one of the places spelled out in the law signed by Gov. Tim Walz last August where people can legally smoke marijuana. The legislation also specifies private residences and private property not accessible to the public — with consent from the owner. But the legislation is somewhat hazy on where else it’s allowed,” Dan Kraker reports for Minnesota Public Radio. Read more.

Want to enter your homegrown cannabis or other products in the Legacy Cup? Here’s how. The fifth annual Legacy Cup — Minnesota’s largest cannabis event — is set for Sept. 14 and, naturally, it will include a competition for the best cannabis flower, concentrates, edibles, beverages and other products. Whether you’re a homegrower or commercial business, there are a number of categories open to you. If you wish to enter a product, fill out this form and you will receive a submission guide with more information. Registration opens today and each category has a limited number of spots, so get your registration in ASAP. Products will be dropped off next month for judging. Anyone interested in sponsoring or vending can submit their info here.

Weed-friendly reggae music festival coming to Brooklyn Center next month: The Minnesota Tropical Music & Food Festival will be held Saturday, Aug. 17, at the Palm Grove Event Center in Brooklyn Center. Featuring performances by Ky-Mani Marley, Christopher Martin and more, organizers say the event will offer Caribbean food, vendors, cannabis drinks and edibles and a smoking patio. Tickets and more info here.

OCM officially begins accepting some cannabis business license applications: The Office of Cannabis Management on Wednesday started accepting applications for preapproval for a limited number of social equity business licenses that will be awarded to qualified applicants in a lottery this fall. Only applicants who have had their social equity status verified are eligible for the lottery. The window to apply for preapproval closes Aug. 12. Additional lotteries for social equity and other applicants will be held later. The first state-licensed cannabis businesses will open after rules governing the new market are in place, expected sometime in early 2025. Resources for social equity applicants can be found on the OCM website.

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