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As recreational cannabis takes root in East Grand Forks, other states offer clues to the industry's future

On Friday, May 1, 2026, the White Earth Nation-owned Waabigwan Mashkiki dispensary officially opened in East Grand Forks, marking the arrival of legal adult-use cannabis retail in the city.
This facility, the first of three planned for the city, follows Minnesota's 2023 legalization of recreational marijuana, entering a market that has generated over $64 million in sales since September.
East Grand Forks Economic Development Director Maggie Brockling pointed to Massachusetts, where the legal cannabis industry generated more than $9 billion in gross sales, as a model for local job creation.
Within six to eight weeks, the dispensary plans to open an on-site consumption room in the former Burger King play area, featuring a video game lounge for customers.
CEO Zach Wilson views the venture as an early step in a developing industry, aiming to normalize cannabis consumption through safe, responsible operations comparable to visiting a local bar.

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As recreational cannabis takes root in East Grand Forks, other states offer clues to the industry's future

EAST GRAND FORKS — With the Friday grand opening of Waabigwan Mashkiki, the White Earth Nation-owned dispensary, the legalization of adult-use cannabis has officially arrived in East Grand Forks. It will be about a decade before it’s clear what that means for the city and the state, said Maggie Brockling, East Grand Forks economic development director, as it takes about 10 years to fully understand the impacts of a new industry. Minnesota offici…

5 days ago·Fargo, United States

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