Originally published February 2nd, 2024 5:38 p.m.
Updated February 2nd, 2024 8:22 p.m.
(KNSI) — A self-described tribal based medical cannabis dispensary planned for the old Ace Bar building downtown St. Cloud on Saturday morning has been ordered not to open.
White Feather Concierge and Wellness Center President Doctor Allen S. Miller is a holistic healer with the Crow Nation. He talked exclusively with KNSI News on Friday and explained their mandate is to protect, enhance, and bring back native health services. “These techniques that the natives have go back several hundred years. And under treaty, what we’re able to do is revitalize those back in the community.”
Dr. Miller claims the facility will be under tribal control of the Crow Nation. As it is a sovereign nation, he says it is not under the jurisdiction of the state, county, or city laws.
Not so, says the Office of Cannabis Management.
In a letter sent from the OCM to Dr. Miller and obtained by KNSI News, it says only recognized tribes within the state of Minnesota can “operate and regulate cannabis business on Tribal lands.” State statute governs Minnesota’s cannabis market, and “empowers the OCM to ensure regulatory compliance.” State statute also “prohibits the retail sale of cannabis flower and cannabis products ‘without a license issued under this chapter that authorizes the sale.’”
To date the OCM has not issued any retail, or other, cannabis license.
Under Dr. Miller’s plan, he told KNSI News people seeking services will need to be seen by a White Feather physician to determine if they qualify for care. They must also become an ‘ad-hoc’ member of the Crow Nation by paying a $50 fee. “It’s a yearlong membership fee, for lack of a better term. Kind of like Costco,” Miller explains. “And they’ll be able to take advantage of all the healing techniques that we have.”
Dr. Miller says their treatments are meant for people suffering from anxiety, chronic pain, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and a host of other ailments.
White Feather was planning a soft opening on Saturday, February 3rd and would assess how it went to determine an opening date. The letter from the OCM warns Dr. Miller, “Your plan to sell cannabis in a retail setting at this date would be in flagrant violation of the law. Be aware that under Minnesota Statutes, OCM may assess fines in excess of $1,000,000 for violations of this law.”
A check with the Minnesota Department of Health’s Office of Medical Cannabis says the only medicinal marijuana that is legal to buy in the state is from either Green Goods or Rise Dispensary. Any other businesses claiming to sell it are doing so illegally – sovereign nation or not.
OCM warned Dr. Miller that any products attempted to be sold at his location would be distributed in violation of the law and would, therefore, be subject to embargo.
A flyer advertising the opening mentions cannabis flower and extracts and psilocybin fruits and edibles. Psilocybin is a psychedelic compound known otherwise as hallucinogenic mushrooms. The letter warns, “Minnesota statutes classifies it as Schedule I controlled substance, the sale of which is illegal in Minnesota. Sale of such a product may result in prosecution by local authorities.”
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