High North Dispensary celebrated its opening in Cottage Grove with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday, Aug. 20 outside the dispensary, located at 8711 East Point Douglas Road, Suite 108.
The first adult-use cannabis dispensary to open in Cottage Grove, the business is owned by Cottage Grove natives Tyler Thompson and Dan Johnson, both graduates of Park High School.
Mayor Myron Bailey welcomed the business and praised its owners for investing in their hometown.
“This is an exciting day here in Cottage Grove,” Bailey said. “We have another new business opening here, which is pretty awesome.”
Bailey said the dispensary is clean, organized and modern, and encouraged residents to visit the store and learn more about its products. He also emphasized that the owners had followed the required processes established by the city and the state of Minnesota.
“These guys are spot on,” Bailey said. “They are doing exactly what they’re supposed to do. They’re following the processes here in Cottage Grove and the state of Minnesota.”
Bailey encouraged residents who purchase cannabis products to support the locally owned business rather than traveling outside Cottage Grove. He thanked Thompson and his business partner for establishing roots in the community where they grew up.
Laurie Levine, president of the Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce, also welcomed High North to the chamber and community.
“We’re excited to see the success your business will bring going forward,” she said.
Thompson said the opening followed several years of work and regulatory changes. 
“We’ve gone through ups and downs, dealt with a lot of adversity, a lot of regulation change,” Thompson said. “But it’s been great working with the city of Cottage Grove throughout that process.”
Minnesota legalized medical cannabis in 2014, later amending state law to allow hemp-derived THC edibles. High North initially opened in Cottage Grove in 2022 as a hemp business selling products permitted under Minnesota's hemp laws, before the state legalized recreational marijuana for adults in 2023. Hemp and Cannabis both come from the cannabis sativa plant, with Minnesota currently early in the legalization process. Modern cannabis and THC products meanwhile have increased dramatically in potency over the last several decades.
Thompson said the company takes its responsibility to customers and the community seriously. He acknowledged that cannabis businesses can be intimidating to some people and invited residents to visit the store, ask questions and learn about the products available.
The company has also grown significantly since its beginning. Thompson said High North started with two employees and now has approximately 20 staff members, many of whom are local residents.
“The support you give us also supports our team,” Thompson said.
High North will hold a grand opening celebration Saturday, Aug. 22, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., the store’s regular business hours. The celebration will include giveaways and other activities. Visitors will also be able to receive a free personal pan pizza through a partnership with neighboring Carbone’s Pizzeria.
High North can be reached through its website at highnorthmn.com or through its social media pages under High North Dispensary. The store is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.