Mahnomen Pot Bust

MAHNOMEN, MN—On Wednesday, August 2, the day before the White Earth Nation began selling recreational marijuana, a large amount of marijuana was seized from a Mahnomen business.  Mahnomen County Sheriff Josh Guenther tells R&J News what happened.

The owner of the shop, 53-year-old Todd Thompson, was not arrested.  Guenther says simply belonging to the White Earth Nation doesn’t give one the ability to sell cannabis.

There’s no word on how much marijuana was seized. Guenther says Thompson’s business remains open…and will as long as it doesn’t sell marijuana.

The White Earth Reservation Business Committee released a statement Thursday about the shutdown, saying they will cooperate with law enforcement in their investigation. The Band wants to reiterate that while adult-use cannabis has been decriminalized, it is still an area that is highly regulated by the State of Minnesota and the White Earth Band. No person or business can produce or sell cannabis within the White Earth Reservation without a license issued by the White Earth Medicinal Control Commission.