The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe signed a cannabis compact agreement Wednesday with Gov. Tim Walz at the state Capitol.

The agreement recognizes the Mille Lacs Band’s authority to regulate and sell cannabis outside its land in central Minnesota.

News came early Wednesday, when Aarik Robertson, general manager of Lake Leaf, the tribe’s cannabis company, made a brief announcement at the Minnesota Cannabis Real Estate Conference taking place in Golden Valley.

A spokesperson for the Office of Cannabis Management confirmed the signing of the agreement.

In an interview with MPR News, OCM Director Eric Taubel said the timing of the new compact could help meet the growing demand for cannabis flower from retailers licensed by the state.

“This compact paves the way for those unique partnerships that we haven’t seen in other states where a small family-owned business can be selling cannabis grown on a tribal reservation in the state market to state citizens,” he said.

Taubel said that as of Wednesday, the state has issued more than 30 licenses to cannabis retailers.

Virgil Wind, chief executive of the Mille Lacs Band, signed the agreement on behalf of the tribe.

The band currently owns and operates two dispensaries at temporary locations within the boundaries of the Mille Lacs reservation. Another dispensary on tribal land is in the planning stage. Wind said the band will work toward building brick-and-mortar stores for those businesses.

He believes Mille Lacs Band’s growing operation is poised to supply its own dispensaries and supply cannabis wholesale to state-licensed retailers.

The band currently operates a 50,000-square-foot cannabis grow facility near Onamia. The agreement includes a provision that allows the band to sell cannabis flower wholesale.

“When looking at the entire cannabis market within Minnesota, I don’t think our intent was ever to own the market, but we really wanted to be a key player within it,” Wind said. “We’re still in the growing phase, but we’re doing good things over there. A lot of (cannabis) flower is being produced.”

Taubel said the agreement is comparable to the compact signed in May between White Earth Nation and the state. He said the differences between the two agreements are “more style than substance.” Taubel described the agreement as one that “captures the general principles that the two parties intend to adhere to.”

The Mille Lacs compact will allow the band’s regulatory agency to issue as many as eight licenses to off-reservation dispensaries.

Like the White Earth agreement, the Mille Lacs Band must also set rules for sales outside tribal lands that “meet or exceed” the state regulations. The Mille Lacs Band has opted to use the same “seed-to-sale” software used by the state to track regulatory compliance.

Wind said that Mille Lacs does not have a current plan to open a dispensary outside the reservation. Instead, he said the band plans to focus on its cultivation business.

The agreement:

Recognizes tribal sovereignty and immunity, affirming cannabis activity on tribal land remains outside state jurisdiction
Contains language that allows the Mille Lacs Band to amend the compact if more favorable terms are offered to other tribal nations in the future
Allows the tribe and OCM to negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding to address OCM licensing of a tribally owned testing facility
Allows the Mille Lacs tribal cannabis enterprise to purchase cannabis from state-licensed wholesalers
Provides potency limitations on cannabis products
Provides a license for Mille Lacs cannabis enterprise to transport cannabis on state land and provides guidelines for advertising

Wind said he was excited to sign the compact.

“It really felt like we were entering into, you know, a partnership, right? We both have a shared goal,” he said.

Wind said he sees the compact as another opportunity for the band to expand its footprint in the industry — a strategy that he said has already created jobs for tribal members. He estimated that the tribe has created as many as 75 new jobs.

Under the terms of the compact, the Mille Lacs Band and the state will negotiate a tax agreement for sharing sales and taxes collected from tribally owned cannabis businesses operating outside the reservation.

Tax agreements are expected in the coming months.

FERGUS FALLS, Minn. — An employee of a northwestern Minnesota automotive raceway was fatally struck by a race car as he crossed the track in an ATV on Wednesday evening.

Police said Scott Engfer, 68, was serving as a track official at the I-94 EMR Speedway and was driving the ATV across the track during a race around 5:30 p.m. when the crash happened.

First responders from several agencies, including the Fergus Falls Police Department, Fire Department and Ringdahl Ambulance, were at the scene. Lifesaving measures were administered before Engfer was taken to the Fergus Falls hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

He was also a board member with WISSOTA Auto Racing, which promotes dirt track racing in the Upper Midwest.

In a statement, WISSOTA said: “All of us at WISSOTA are heartbroken and devastated by the tragic accident that claimed the life of WISSOTA Board Member, I-94 EMR Speedway Staff Member and friend Scott Engfer. We offer our sincere condolences to Deb, the Engfer family, all of Scott’s friends, colleagues, and acquaintances during this unimaginably difficult time as we all grieve this painful loss. Times like these remind us how precious life is. We ask that you please respect the privacy of the family at this time and offer your support in any way you can.”

The incident remains under investigation by authorities.

Related Articles

Man, 72, charged with threatening to kill federal judge in Minnesota

Mayo closing 6 clinics in southern Minnesota, curtailing Albert Lea services

15-year-old bicyclist fatally struck last weekend in Coon Rapids

Competition heats up for ‘Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota’ as 32 products remain

Body recovered from Tetons lake is believe to be missing kayaker from St. Paul

St. Paul Johnson running back Justice Moody exploded through the Central defense on a 68-yard touchdown run on Thursday afternoon, scoring the final points of his team’s 26-8 victory at James S. Griffin Stadium in St. Paul.

On the home sideline, Central quarterback Charlie Doerr dropped his head as he sat alone on the end of the Minutemen bench.

Moody carried three times for 100 yards and caught two passes for 22 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, the Johnson Governors came up with a big win as St. Paul’s five programs will vie for the Skyway TC-Red subdistrict this season, just one reason for Doerr’s disappointment.

A play that left him despondent shortly before Moody’s dagger began with a heave towards the right corner of the end zone with 9:32 remaining.

Central receiver James Brown had a step on Johnson’s Dea’majeon Henderson-Moore. But by the time the slightly underthrown pass arrived, the Governors defensive back had cut in front of Brown, leapt high and made an interception that changed the game’s trajectory. Central trailed 20-8 at the time.

“We had to get a stop and our defense played tremendous,” said Johnson coach Richard Magembe, whose team avenged losses to Central the past two years and improved to 2-1. “As long as we’re hustling, there’s always an opportunity for a turnover. (Henderson-Moore) is known for plays like that.”

Doerr finished with 17 carries for 52 yards but took a pounding while doing so, limping off the field after the game with a sprained knee.

“He always gets back up, no matter how hard he gets hit,” teammate Damarius Palmer-Bell said.

Doerr, a junior, completed just one of his nine pass attempts for 14 yards.

A first-year varsity starter, he said he doesn’t yet have the best connections with his receivers and was somewhat intimidated during the first half. He saw Brown make a sharp cut towards the end zone’s back corner, but produced a jump ball instead of hitting him on a line.

“Props to the corner for getting it,” Doerr said. “And of course, then they go score.”

Johnson took an 8-0 lead in the first quarter when Ali Farfan threw 16 yards to Anthony Stevenson, who slipped behind Brown at one of the end zone’s front pylons. Farfan threw to Moody for the 2-point conversion.

Johnson, which has won only four of its last 18 games with Central, pushed its lead to 14-0 with 3:27 remaining in the second quarter on Farfan’s 29-yard throw to Stevenson. The conversion attempt failed.

Central (0-3) couldn’t run out the clock at the end of the first half, turning the ball over on downs at its own 39-yard line just 11 seconds before intermission. The Minutemen committed a personal foul on a tackle and Farfan soon hit Moody on a 9-yard pass. The conversion attempt failed and the visitors led 20-0 heading into the break.

Central got on the scoreboard after a Johnson punt snap scuttled through Eloy Kang’s legs and out the back of the end zone for a safety with 7:28 remaining in the third quarter.

On the ensuing possession, five Doerr runs in seven plays propelled a drive that ended with Willie Harris plowing home on a 4-yard run. The conversion attempt was no good and the hosts trailed 20-8 with three minutes remaining in the third.

Henderson-Moore’s interception and Moody’s second touchdown rescued Johnson, which savored the triumph against its city rival.

“We could have performed way better than we did,” Stevenson said. “We stooped down to their level, but we got our revenge, which is what matters.”

Farfan completed 8 of 17 passes for 84 yards and three touchdowns, with one interception. He also ran seven times for 28 yards and teammate Jacoby Wiggins carried six times for 60 yards. Stevenson’s only two catches went for touchdowns.

Johnson hosts Highland Park on Sept. 19 and Central visits Minneapolis Southwest the same day.

Related Articles

High school football: Week 3 predictions

With St. Paul football programs back together, more than pride on the line

High school football: Two Rivers’ rushing attack leads to win at Simley

High school football: St. Croix Lutheran improves to 2-0 by beating Johnson

High school football: Predictions for Simley-Two Rivers, Woodbury-Moorhead and more

Thursday turned into a playoff preview for the Minnesota Lynx.

Entering the regular-season finale, if the Lynx beat Golden State they’d begin the postseason against the expansion Valkyries, whom they were unbeaten against. A loss meant they would get a Seattle team that beat them twice in four regular-season matchups.

The defense was strong throughout, the offense turned it up in the final quarter, and the Lynx prepped for the playoffs with a 72-53 victory over the Valkyries.

Game 1 of the best-of-three, first-round series between the No. 1 and No. 8 seeds is Sunday at Target Center.

Finishing 34-10, Minnesota tied the 2023 Las Vegas Aces for the most wins in a season in WNBA history. The Lynx finished 20-2 at home.

Natisha Hiedeman led the Lynx with 21 points, and potential league Most Valuable Player Napheesa Collier finished with 19 points, making eight of 10 shots, including three triples in four attempts to add another mark to her stellar career.

Collier is the second player in league history to finish with a 50-40-90 percentage for field goals, 3-pointers and free throws. Her final splits are 53.1%/40.3%/90.6%. Washington’s Elena Delle Donne did it in her 2019 MVP season.

The Lynx shot 43.3%, including 9 for 17 in the fourth quarter when they pulled away.

On Fan Appreciation Night, pink wigs were handed out to the Lynx faithful in honor of the StudBudz duo of Hiedeman and Courtney Williams. The duo keyed a fourth quarter start that quickly bumped a six-point lead to 13.

Dribbling off the wing, Hiedeman did a pump fake, stepped around a defender and scored on a scoop. A trey by Kayla McBride was followed by a Williams steal that resulted in a fast-break layup by Hiedeman.

Hiedeman swished another triple and scored on a layup to make it 59-41.

Averaging 8.8 points per game coming in, Hiedeman’s total made it the fourth time in five games she has scored at least 20.

Coming off a Tuesday loss in Indiana, a game where the Lynx lacked the needed aggression, Minnesota found ways to get back to what made them so successful in their own end.

How good was the aggressive Minnesota defense?

Golden State’s point total was the lowest against Minnesota this season. Its 22 first-half points, the fewest in a half by a Lynx opponent this season. The Valkyries’ eight first-quarter points tied for the fewest in a quarter by a Minnesota foe.

Losers of three straight games after winning five in a row, Golden State (23-21) was just 9 of 33 from the field in the first half, missing all 13 3-point tries and turning the ball over 12 times. It finished with 21.

Related Articles

Top-seed Lynx stumble in playoff tune-up in Indiana

Big third quarter boosts Lynx to victory

Lynx top Fever in Napheesa Collier’s return

Lynx top Liberty again to expand first-place lead to 6.5 games

Phee-less Lynx rally to beat Storm in Seattle