Cloudy skies. Low 29F. Winds light and variable..
Cloudy skies. Low 29F. Winds light and variable.
Updated: December 24, 2025 @ 11:15 pm
Photo by Gabriel Hathaway
Winona Dispensary Owner Alexander Denning (right) smiles with his brother Chris Denning and store pet and mascot, Rocky.
Photo by Gabriel Hathaway
Winona Dispensary Owner Alexander Denning (right) smiles with his brother Chris Denning and store pet and mascot, Rocky.
by GABRIEL HATHAWAY
Winona’s first cannabis dispensary recently opened its doors, and more are on the way. Aptly named Winona Dispensary, the owner said the store will be geared towards medical marijuana and educating people on the substance.
It has been a long road for dispensaries to actually begin opening in Minnesota. While recreational adult-use marijuana was legalized in Minnesota in 2023, with plans for the state government to begin licensing in early 2025, legal challenges and ironing out the final rules delayed the licensing rollout. But, finally, the long wait is coming to an end as more and more businesses are getting licensed.
Winona’s first dispensary, located at 173 East Second Street, opened earlier this month. Winona Dispensary Owner Alexander Denning called it a soft opening and said the store is still waiting on full potency products such as cannabis flower, concentrates, and pre-rolls, which he hopes to get in early January. He added that the store will also grow its own product in the future. Since the store opened, Denning said the response has been wonderful, especially from veterans who are happy about having a local shop so they don’t have to drive to Rochester anymore.
Other businesses are working toward opening dispensaries. The next furthest along is Tranquil Gardens, at 79 East Third Street. The business is fully licensed, but owner Dillon Bouher said he is waiting for full-potency product to come in. He estimated that it will become available in early January, after which the business will officially open. He added that the businesses indoor cultivation facility on the east side of Winona is halfway complete and coming along nicely. Winona Deputy City Clerk Amy VanGuilder said four other new businesses are also working diligently toward dispensary licenses.
Denning emphasized that medical marijuana will be a big focus of his store. He noted that his brother has been a medical cannabis patient since 2006 and said that cannabis can help in many ways. Denning said his store will also educate customers on low-potency and full-potency cannabis, medical mairjuana and how self-referral works, as well as dosage, handling, and transportation. “I have a deep, deep passion for this plant. I have a deep, deep passion for helping people through this plant,” Denning said. Denning added that the Winona Dispensary is partnering with another company to have a medical advisor, dietician, and cannabis consultant to meet with patients.
“I think the stigma [around marijuana] is still strong … that’s why the education is such an important piece,” Denning said. He added, “For anybody who has the opposing [view], ‘Hey, I don’t think this is a good idea for my community,’ they’ve got to [have] open ears to understanding the benefit …”
Local@winonapost.com
Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos.
Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles.
Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.
We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: