Planting Seeds Of Change: The Future Of Marijuana Use In Minnesota According To A Cannabis Entrepreneur

"As we usher in a new era of marijuana legalization in Minnesota, Grounded Gardens is positioning itself as a cannabis culture hub," owner Bridgette Pinder announced one a day before the opening of the dispensary's new lounge and ground-floor retail in Minnesota.

According to MPR News, Pinder is planning to enlighten her customers on cannabis cultivation using hemp plants as substitutes until the state's Office of Cannabis Management permits the sale of marijuana plants. “We're gonna have an area where people can hang out and bring their own stuff to smoke because we won't be able to sell any of that stuff yet."

She hopes customers will take up the opportunity to grow their own cannabis at home by purchasing seeds from her. Pinder's package, priced slightly over $1,000, includes seeds, lighting, a grow tent, plant monitoring software and a three-hour class. "And then people can kind of swap seeds between one another. And then you can have different strains,” she said, hinting at future seed-swapping events.

The seeds will be sourced from the Minneapolis-based seed bank, CannaJoy, which until now, has only dealt in hemp-derived THC products. Co-founder Bob Walloch views the impending law change as a major boost for his family-owned cannabis business.

“With the change in the law, for us, that's going to be a big change in the sense that our seed bank can open,” Walloch said.

However, the state's seed testing process has lagged. “We haven't started accepting things for testing. And in Minnesota, we require things to be labeled with a test that's able to substantiate those labeled claims,” said Michael Merriman, seed regulatory supervisor at the state plant protection division.

The state law will soon permit adults to grow up to eight cannabis plants and possess up to two pounds of marijuana flower at home and two ounces elsewhere.

CannaJoy’s CEO, Erin Walloch, optimistically added, “So as people are growing their cannabis at home, they can have some edibles from Minnesota as well, while they wait for their harvest.” Dispensaries, however, are expected to sell marijuana only by 2024 or 2025. 

If you are interested to know more about the expansion of cannabis-related businesses not just in Minnesota but also in other states consider joining us at the 17th edition of the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference, which is returning to Chicago on Sept 27-28. Get your tickets today before prices increase and secure a spot at the epicenter of cannabis investment and branding.

Related Content

• Cannabis Sales Launch On Tribal Land In Minnesota As Rest Of State Works Out Red Tape For Legal Program

• Minnesota Craft Brewers Thrive As Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization Expands Market

• Gov. Walz Signs Cannabis Legalization Into Law, Former Gov Jesse Ventura Attends Ceremony

Image by El Planteo