RISE Cannabis in Mankato, the first to sell recreationally in southern Minnesota

MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) -

People over the age of 21 who do not have medical cannabis cards, can now buy marijuana recreationally from RISE Dispensary.

Medical cannabis user, Leah Petersen says this opportunity makes buying marijuana much safer.

“With my friends and everything I told them, just wait till its recreational. Stop going to people’s houses because they travel out of state to go to dispensaries. So, it makes it a lot easier that it’s like in town now,” Petersen explained.

RISE is the first store in Mankato to sell recreationally.

In a statement to KEYC, Green Thumb Industries President of Operations, Matt Navarro says, recreational sales at RISE provide safe and tested access while creating jobs, generating tax revenue, and investing in organizations that strengthen Minnesota."

Mankato City Manager Susan Arntz says RISE being a medical *and recreational store falls outside of the number of recreational stores allowed in Mankato.

Arntz says, “That type of operation (RISE Cannabis) does not count towards the city’s four licensed cannabis retailers in the community.”

Arntz says a couple other retailers are in the middle of the licensing process.

Petersen has been a medical cannabis user and thinks these stores opening in the area is a good thing.

Petersen said, “I think it’s really cool being a college town and all. I think they’re keeping up with the times. So, it is really cool to see these updates.”

Arntz says, in the future, RISE Dispensary and the other dispensaries soon to open, will be accountable to remain compliant in not selling to anyone under the age of 21.

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