More dispensaries eyeing Mankato locations

MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) - Last fall saw two cannabis dispensaries open in Mankato.

Rise Dispensary had operated for some time in Mankato as a medical dispensary, and was the first to open for consumer products in September.

Then in November Voyager Cannabis Company became the first locally owned dispensary to open.

City ordinances allow for four consumer dispensaries, but Rise doesn’t count towards that number since they’re a medical dispensary, so those last three spots are highly sought after.

“It’s like a regional hub down there. The location allows us to expand, access responsibility while working with the city and the community down there,” said Scott Johnson, general manager of Tokahe Distribution, who works with dispensaries around the state.

Island Pezi is an established tribal-owned dispensary owned by the Prairie Island Indian Community, which also owns Treasure Island Casino.

The group has announced that they are looking to open a dispensary of their own in Mankato within the next few months, and have been having meeting with the city for the better part of a year.

The group is involved with more than 50 dispensaries around the state, and says that Mankato is one area that they’re eager to expand into.

“The board does a really good job of searching the areas and trying to find the best location for us to open up dispensaries and while communicating with the city and the areas we plan on going into,” said Ed Buck with the Prairie Island Cannabis Commission.

The Island Pezi dispensary is planning on opening at 1809 Adams Street in Mankato in the River Place Center, just a block away from Rise Dispensary.

The city of Mankato told KEYC that all available dispensary slots have been claimed.

Tribal-owned dispensaries can be counted against the limit at the city’s discretion, and the city did not say whether Island Pezi has claimed one of those slots.

Click here to download the KEYC News Now app or our KEYC First Alert weather app.