The Leech Lake Cannabis Regulatory Commission (LLCRC) has extended the public comment period for the draft updates to the Leech Lake Cannabis Regulatory Act to Saturday, November 9, 2025, at 9:00 p.m. CST.

The extension follows a public hearing held on October 30, 2025, where Band members and community stakeholders gathered to review proposed amendments and share feedback on the future of cannabis regulation under the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.

Purpose of the Updates

The updated Leech Lake Cannabis Regulatory Act aims to strengthen the Band’s ability to regulate cannabis safely, transparently, and in alignment with tribal sovereignty.
The proposed amendments modernize the Code to:

• Clarify ownership and business participation definitions;
• Reinforce Band ownership and control of licensed operations;
• Expand the Commission’s oversight, enforcement, and licensing authority; and
• Align operations with the Cole and Wilkinson Memoranda, federal guidance for responsible cannabis regulation on tribal lands.

Summary of Proposed Amendments

Highlights from the Commission’s October 30 presentation include:

Chapter 1 General Provisions

• Updated and added definitions (ownership, license types, canopy).
• Introduces Non-Band Member Cannabis Business Licenses allowing limited outside participation under Commission oversight.
• Removes outdated references such as “Cannabis Supplier.”

Chapter 2 Commission

• Expands Commission authority for licensing, audits, and enforcement.
• Clarifies duties, recordkeeping, and designee powers.

Chapter 3 Regulations

• Reinforces the Commission’s power to issue regulations governing operations and compliance standards.

Chapter 5 Ownership and Public Policy

• Requires all cannabis businesses to remain Band-owned and controlled.
• Mandates Commission verification before license issuance or renewal.
• Prevents unauthorized transfers of ownership or management rights.

Chapters 7-9 Licensing

• Updates license categories and fee structures.
• Aligns application and renewal procedures for both Band and Non-Band Member licensees.
• Moves employee background checks and verifications under direct Commission oversight.

Chapter 14 – Violations and Penalties

• Authorizes the Commission to issue administrative orders and require corrective actions.
• Increases the maximum civil fine from $5,000 to $10,000 per violation to strengthen enforcement and accountability.

If no additional substantive changes are required after this comment period, the final draft will be submitted to the Leech Lake Tribal Council for consideration and possible adoption.

Community Questions: Commission FAQ Summary

To help the community better understand the regulatory changes, the Commission released a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document on November 1, 2025.

Key points include:

Licensing Availability:

• Non-Tribal members cannot yet obtain a cannabis license, but future participation may be considered.
• Application materials for cultivation and retail licenses are under development and will be released once finalized.

License Fees and Processing:

• The Commission is developing a fee schedule and aims to process completed applications within 30 days of submission.

Business Size and Capacity:

• Non-Band Member licenses will be limited to microbusiness capacity, consistent with Minnesota’s smallest license type.
• Band Member operations may also face capacity limits depending on market conditions.

Home Cultivation:

• Leech Lake Band members may cultivate cannabis for personal use within reservation boundaries without a license, but not for commercial sale.
• An ordinance to guide home cultivation is currently being developed.

Off-Reservation Considerations:

• Tribal members living off the reservation must follow state law in their jurisdiction regarding home cultivation.

Community members with questions are encouraged to contact:
David Jones, Jr.
Executive Director
LLBO Cannabis Regulatory Commission
[email protected]

How to Review and Submit Comments

The draft Cannabis Regulatory Act and full public notice can be reviewed at:

Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Public Notice of Opportunity to Comment on Amended Draft Cannabis Regulatory Act 2025

For ongoing updates and Commission resources, visit:

www.llojibwe.org/cannabis.html

Public Comment Period

Deadline: Saturday, November 9, 2025 – 9:00 p.m. CST

Please contact the Legal Department at (218) 335-3673 or [email protected]  with specific questions regarding the Act.

Submit comments on the Act to [email protected] with the subject “Cannabis” or deliver written comments to the Tribal Government building

Miigwech to all who participated in the October 30 hearing and continue to contribute to this important conversation about the responsible and sovereign regulation of cannabis on Leech Lake lands.