Google AI
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
