Legacy Cannabis: Minnesota’s First Licensed Adult-Use Dispensary Opens in Duluth

Legacy Cannabis Opens as Minnesota’s First Licensed Adult-Use Dispensary

DULUTH — At 4:20 p.m. on Tuesday, Legacy Cannabis made history by becoming Minnesota’s first licensed adult-use dispensary, offering a variety of cannabis products, including flower, edibles, and beverages.

“It’s historic,” said Josh Wilken-Simon, lead consultant for Legacy Cannabis Duluth. “In most other states, the first licensed dispensaries are large, multi-state corporations. For a small, independent, family-owned Minnesota business to be the first state-licensed dispensary is groundbreaking.”

The opening comes on the heels of Minnesota’s legalization of adult-use cannabis in 2023. Legacy began the complex application process about a year ago to comply with the state’s stringent regulations. With this milestone, Wilken-Simon anticipates a surge of small dispensaries entering the market, fostering a robust craft cannabis industry that prioritizes local businesses over corporate giants.

“A lot of us fought for many years to ensure that Minnesota’s legal cannabis industry would focus on small, craft businesses with an emphasis on social equity for those negatively affected by the ‘war on drugs,’” Wilken-Simon added.

Legacy Cannabis, located in Lincoln Park at 1906 W. Superior St., originally opened as Legacy Glassworks in 2010. After relocating and rebranding last year, the dispensary now features a state-of-the-art facility with security measures including a camera system and employee badge entry.

Upon entering, customers must present identification to confirm they are at least 21 years old. The 1,500-square-foot shop boasts over 100 THC beverages, more than 100 different edibles, cannabis seeds, and 16 strains of cannabis flower sourced from the White Earth Nation.

“We currently offer a ton of locally made glass pipes and low-potency hemp edibles,” Wilken-Simon stated. “Starting this afternoon, we’ll have actual cannabis flower and vapes available.”

The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management has confirmed that the state’s 37 licensed cannabis businesses, including 23 microbusinesses, are now working to establish product supply chains. With tribal-state cannabis compacts in place, state-licensed retailers are partnering with Tribal Nations to procure safe, tested cannabis products.

As more products become available, Legacy plans to expand its offerings, including 20-milligram beverages and 200-milligram edibles. The dispensary emphasizes local craftsmanship, showcasing handcrafted pipes from 93 local glassblowers and merchandise from over 100 artists nationwide.

Customers can purchase up to 2 ounces of cannabis flower, 800 milligrams of edibles, and 8 grams of concentrate at a time, with all transactions recorded in a secure database. The state cannabis tax is currently set at 15%, in addition to the sales tax.

Legacy Cannabis is also gearing up for the Legacy Cup, the largest cannabis festival in the Midwest, scheduled for September 27 at Surly Brewing Festival Field in Minneapolis.

As Minnesota’s cannabis landscape evolves, Legacy Cannabis stands at the forefront, committed to supporting local growers and fostering a community-oriented approach to cannabis retail.