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MAHNOMEN, Minn. — White Earth Nation has high hopes for its cannabis business, and is looking at big profit increases this year from dispensaries in Moorhead and St. Cloud.
The Moorhead dispensary saw net profits of $1.5 million in fiscal year 2025, and that is expected to jump to $5.8 million this year, according to White Earth Secretary-Treasurer Mike LaRoque, who spoke at the White Earth State of the Nation event in Mahnomen on Thursday, May 7. Net profits at the St. Cloud site were $885,000 in fiscal year 2025, which is expected to increase to $2.8 million this year, he added.
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White Earth now operates cannabis dispensaries in Mahnomen, Moorhead, St. Cloud and East Grand Forks, which “opened last week and is very successful,” LaRoque said.
The tribe has also closed on property for a dispensary in Chanhassen, with the goal of opening in July in a very limited and potentially lucrative market there, LaRoque said.
The tribe’s cannabis business, Waabigwan Mashkiki, now has 194 employees.
“I’m blown away by how far ahead we are of everybody else,” Tribal Chairman Michael Fairbanks said in his State of the Nation speech.
”Not to be bragging, not to be ego, but just the way we planned this out, and where we’re at today, and what we’re doing with our business. I’m so proud of it,” he said.
A dispensary north of White Earth appears to be next in line.
“No. 5 will be in Bemidji,” Fairbanks said.
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Waabigwan Mashkiki was audited by a third party for the years 2023, 2024 and 2025 and received clean audits, with no negative findings, LaRoque said.
In 2025, the tribally owned cannabis business took in $15.3 million in total revenue, which resulted in $5.1 million in net profits, and a $2.4 million cash balance at the end of the year, LaRoque said.
The cannabis business repaid close to $2 million to the tribe for loans on quarterly schedules, and “retail build-outs have been fully funded by Waabigwan Mashkiki for $3 million,” he said.
White Earth has set up a revenue allocation program for its cannabis business, similar to one used for the tribal gaming business, that allocates some of the profits to tribal programs and services, LaRoque said.
With profits from the cannabis business, the tribe this year will put up $1 million for an elderly housing fix-up and repair program, just like last year, and Waabigwan Mashkiki has donated close to $100,000 to powwows and other community events since its opening, LaRoque said.
“And that’s just the beginning,” he added. “We only see these revenues expanding and being put into programs to meet the needs of our communities.”
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