Last verified: April 2026
The Big Picture
By December 31, 2025, Minnesota OCM had issued 119 cannabis licenses across all categories, with approximately 1,404 preliminary approvals in the pipeline. The agency received 3,563 total applications from its first full application window (February 18–March 14, 2025). Twin Cities metro has the densest dispensary concentration in the state.
Green Goods (Vireo Growth) — The First Mover
Green Goods (Vireo Growth, headquartered in Minneapolis) is the converted medical cannabis operator that made the state’s first non-tribal sale on September 16, 2025 at 207 S. 9th Street, downtown Minneapolis. Green Goods opened at eight statewide locations on Day 1, including five in the Twin Cities metro:
- Green Goods 207 S. 9th Street, downtown Minneapolis (the historic first sale)
- Plus four other metro locations
- Bloomington (near Mall of America)
- Woodbury (positioned for Wisconsin cross-border traffic)
Vireo Growth was one of Minnesota’s two original medical-cannabis operators (alongside Leafline Labs, which became RISE under Green Thumb Industries). Vireo’s conversion to adult-use under the Green Goods brand was relatively smooth, leveraging existing cultivation, manufacturing, and dispensary infrastructure.
RISE Dispensaries (Green Thumb Industries) — September 17, 2025
RISE Dispensaries (Green Thumb Industries) launched adult-use sales the day after Green Goods, at five locations including:
- Brooklyn Park
- Eagan (2795 Pilot Knob Road)
- New Hope
- St. Paul Highland Park (2239 Ford Parkway) — St. Paul’s anchor cannabis retailer
- Plus other metro locations
RISE is operated by Green Thumb Industries (GTI), one of the largest U.S. cannabis MSOs. GTI’s Minnesota operations leverage existing cultivation, manufacturing, and retail expertise from RISE’s footprint in Illinois, New York, Florida, and other states.
MN Loon Dispensary — The Social Equity Lottery Winner
MN Loon Dispensary at 2800 Lyndale Avenue South in the Uptown / Tangletown area is one of Minnesota’s social equity lottery winners. As a smaller, locally owned operator, MN Loon represents the social-equity intent of HF 100: providing market access to operators from communities disproportionately impacted by previous marijuana enforcement.
Sweetleaves, Budtales, and More
Other notable Twin Cities dispensaries:
- Sweetleaves — in the Minneapolis North Loop / Warehouse District
- Budtales — at 33 S. 6th Street, downtown Minneapolis
- Pot Mama’s — opened in Edina in April 2026, proving even restrictive suburbs can’t prevent compliant businesses from entering
Weedmaps listed approximately 39 cannabis-related retail locations in Minneapolis by early 2026, though this figure includes lower-potency hemp edible retailers alongside full-service dispensaries.
Tribal Dispensaries in the Metro
Tribal dispensaries are open to non-tribal adults 21+ and are increasingly metro-accessible:
- NativeCare West St. Paul — Red Lake Nation, opened March 20, 2026 at 2067 South Robert Street
- Flame & Flora Prior Lake — Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, opened April 2026 at 2571 Credit Union Drive (across from Mystic Lake Casino) — closest tribal dispensary to Mpls (~25 mi SW)
See our Tribal Overview for the full picture of tribal cannabis in Minnesota.
The Anoka Municipal Dispensary
Of particular note: the City of Anoka opened a municipal dispensary on February 6, 2026 at 839 East River Road — believed to be the first government-run cannabis dispensary in the United States. Osseo plans a similar municipal dispensary mid-2026. See our Anoka Municipal page.
License Caps — July 2026 Reassessment
Current OCM license caps:
- 50 cultivators
- 24 manufacturers
- 150 retailers
- 100 mezzobusinesses
A mandated reassessment of license caps is scheduled for July 2026, which could significantly expand the market. Watch OCM announcements.
The Microbusiness Wave
Minnesota’s license framework includes a microbusiness category that has dominated the applicant pool. The first state cannabis license issued (June 18, 2025) was a microbusiness for outdoor cultivation in Pine County. As microbusinesses scale and open retail components, expect additional independent operators to enter the Twin Cities market.
Testing Bottleneck
A critical bottleneck remains testing capacity. Only 3 licensed testing facilities operated as of late 2025, with ChRi Laboratories in St. Paul becoming the first licensed lab on September 10, 2025. Legislators authorized temporary out-of-state testing for hemp-derived products to relieve pressure, but supply chain constraints — limited cultivation, few transporters, insufficient testing throughput — continue to restrict product availability.
For the current OCM-licensed retailer directory, visit mn.gov/ocm.
For in-depth cannabis education, dosing guides, safety information, and research summaries, visit our partner site TryCannabis.org
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