Navigating Minnesota's Cannabis Industry with Jen Reise
Jun 2, 2026
Minnesota's cannabis industry is entering a new phase.
Licenses are being awarded. Dispensaries are opening their doors. Cultivators are bringing new products to market. At the same time, entrepreneurs are navigating a constantly changing landscape of regulations, legislation, and business challenges.
Few people have spent more time helping operators make sense of that complexity than Jen Reise.
On a recent episode of The Canna Connect Show, Steven Eigenmann sat down with the founder of North Star Cannabis Consulting to discuss cannabis licensing, federal reform, Minnesota legislation, and how small businesses can position themselves for long-term success in a rapidly evolving market.
Watch the full interview: https://youtu.be/9I5yVZkvegA
Listen to the podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568135/episodes/19257153
Building a Trusted Resource for Minnesota Cannabis
Before launching North Star Cannabis Consulting, Jen spent nearly two decades practicing law in Minnesota. After years of following cannabis policy and helping businesses understand emerging regulations, she decided to focus full-time on supporting Minnesota's cannabis industry.
Today, many operators know Jen through her widely read newsletter, which provides compliance updates, legislative analysis, and industry news for cannabis professionals across the state. What began as a way to help people stay informed has grown into one of Minnesota's most trusted sources for cannabis policy updates.
But for Jen, information is only part of the equation.
The bigger challenge is helping entrepreneurs turn that information into action.
The North Star Accelerator: Winning Together
One of the most interesting parts of the conversation focused on the North Star Accelerator, a membership-based program designed to help cannabis entrepreneurs navigate licensing, compliance, and operational challenges.
Rather than acting as a traditional consultant who hands over a report and disappears, Jen has built a collaborative community where operators can ask questions, share resources, and learn from one another.
Throughout the interview, she emphasized a simple belief:
Small businesses succeed when they work together.
The accelerator has already helped multiple dispensaries and cultivation operators move from licensing to opening their doors, creating a network of entrepreneurs who continue supporting one another even after launching their businesses.
As Minnesota's market grows more competitive, that kind of collaboration may become one of the industry's greatest advantages.
Understanding the Legislative Landscape
The conversation also explored several important policy topics currently shaping Minnesota's cannabis market.
Jen discussed proposed legislative updates that could streamline event licensing, improve operational efficiency, and potentially make it easier for businesses to participate in both medical and adult-use cannabis markets.
One major topic was the ongoing discussion around unifying Minnesota's medical and adult-use supply chains.
According to Jen, maintaining separate cultivation and distribution systems creates significant costs and operational hurdles, particularly for smaller businesses. A more unified approach could lower barriers to entry and create additional opportunities for operators throughout the state.
Like many issues in cannabis policy, however, the path forward is rarely simple.
Balancing the needs of patients, regulators, legacy operators, and emerging businesses remains an ongoing challenge.
Rescheduling, Descheduling, and the Future of Cannabis
No cannabis policy discussion would be complete without addressing federal reform.
During the interview, Steven and Jen discussed ongoing efforts to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under federal law, as well as the broader conversation around complete descheduling.
While rescheduling would represent a meaningful step forward, Jen made it clear that her ultimate goal is a regulatory framework that treats cannabis more like alcohol.
Rather than maintaining multiple definitions and classifications, she envisions a future where cannabis is regulated consistently, responsibly, and in a way that supports both businesses and consumers.
That future may still be years away, but the industry continues moving steadily in that direction.
The Next Challenge: Standing Out in a Crowded Market
One of the most insightful moments of the conversation came when Jen discussed what happens after operators receive their licenses.
For many entrepreneurs, getting licensed feels like the finish line.
In reality, it's just the beginning.
Jen predicts Minnesota consumers will soon have significantly more choices as additional dispensaries and cultivators enter the market. That increased competition will create new opportunities, but it will also force businesses to think carefully about branding, customer experience, product quality, and long-term sustainability.
The operators who thrive may not necessarily be the biggest.
They may simply be the businesses that build strong relationships, remain adaptable, and stay connected to their communities.
Building the Raft Together
Perhaps the best metaphor from the interview came when Jen described Minnesota's cannabis industry as a group of people trying to cross a river.
Some operators are bringing yachts.
Some are swimming.
Others are still searching for a log.
Her goal is to help build a raft that people can cross together.
That mindset captures much of what makes Minnesota's cannabis community unique.
While competition will certainly increase, the industry's growth has largely been fueled by collaboration, education, and a willingness to share knowledge.
It's a philosophy that aligns closely with what Canna Connect has always been about: helping people build meaningful relationships and grow together.
Watch the Full Conversation
Jen Reise continues to be one of the most informed and influential voices in Minnesota cannabis. Whether you're applying for a license, opening a dispensary, launching a cultivation operation, or simply trying to understand where the market is headed, this episode offers valuable insights into the opportunities and challenges ahead.
Watch on YouTube
Listen on Buzzsprout
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568135/episodes/19257153
Join the Conversation
Minnesota's cannabis industry is still being written. The entrepreneurs, advocates, consultants, and community builders showing up today are helping shape what comes next.
Connect with us at an upcoming Canna Connect event and be part of the conversation.