ALBERT LEA, Minn. (KTTC) – Minnesota’s recreational cannabis industry has begun to bud as many potential retail owners are nearing the finish line.

In June, the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) drew 249 winners during the first state lottery. Now, all that’s left for the winning businesses to complete before starting sales is a state inspection and the local government’s approval.

Although the Smoking Tree storefront was bare, and its shelves were empty on Wednesday, owner Jacob Schlichter was riding the highs of being named the state’s first owner to receive a micro retail license, and now, the state’s first micro retail owner to pass inspection.

“I pretty much eat, sleep, and breathe this. To be here is just an honor and an absolute humbling experience. I didn’t expect to be this early. I thought I’d be coming in towards the end, if anything, Schlichter said. “I just wanted to be timely, to be one of those two in my city. So that the citizens’ money, that would be spent at any dispensary here, could be spent at a local one, and that money can go right back into that same community.”

Along with giving back to his community through sales tax, he hoped his business would also help those struggling with drug addiction.

“As someone who has lost numerous friends to overdoses, I saw cannabis as a way to maybe have a substance that could be [relied] upon when you’re looking for something that won’t kill you, if I’m going to put it pretty bluntly,” Schlichter said.

Albert Lea City Clerk Daphney Maras said the city ordinance allows only two of the six winning applicants in Albert Lea to receive the local government’s approval on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Once the first two that are approved by the OCM and licensed, OCM will notify me, and we will register them with the city at that time,” Maras said.

Once Schlichter receives the green light from the city, he said his register will be ready for the green paper, and his store, ready to sell the green product.

“As soon as I can pay that licensing fee, the second I get that email, I’m going to be forwarding it right to my city staff,” Schlichter said. “I’ll be right at their office in five minutes from my house.”

Schlichter doesn’t have any hard dates for when he plans to be open, but he can open doors once he makes the final payments, receives the city’s approval, and hires employees.

On July 22, OCM will have a second chance lottery for applicants not selected in the first lottery.

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