PRAIRIE ISLAND, Minn. — The Prairie Island Indian Community is planning to open a cannabis dispensary later this year.
PIIC has launched a new business venture, Island Peži, a Native Cannabis Company to be located near Treasure Island Resort and Casino next to the Dakota Station convenience store in Welch.
Island Peži, pay-zhee, meaning grass in the Dakota language, hopes to open a dispensary this to serve the recently legalized adult-use recreational cannabis market. They still need to obtain the proper Tribal licensing but are hopeful for a summer opening.
“When Minnesota began considering legalizing adult-use cannabis last session, the Tribal Council and supporting staff set out on a community engagement effort to listen to Tribal members and determine what it should do with the potential cannabis opportunity,” said Jessie Seim, general counsel of the Prairie Island Indian Community. “The result was support for moving forward to legalize it within the Prairie Island jurisdiction, regulate the activity, and pursue an economic development opportunity. Cannabis is from Ina Maka (mother earth) and can provide many benefits to Minnesotans, so the Community wanted to ensure that the Dakota identity in this business venture shined through.”
Island Peži’s entry into the cannabis industry hopes to create another