Chris McPhillips, founder of Minnesota Valley Cannabis, is poised to bring a green revolution to Le Sueur, Minnesota, though not in the form of peas or corn. Instead, he envisions cultivating cannabis in the old Green Giant research facility, a once-thriving hub for agricultural innovation. With his French bulldog Scrappy by his side, McPhillips sees the potential for a “green revival” in the area—an opportunity that could significantly impact the local economy and agricultural landscape.
However, McPhillips’s vision is currently on hold as the state’s cannabis licensing process stalls due to legal challenges.
Legal Setback Delays Licensing Process
Minnesota Valley Cannabis is among the many companies waiting for a chance to operate legally in Minnesota’s newly legalized cannabis market. McPhillips has already purchased the 50,000-square-foot former Green Giant plant and is ready to start production. The next critical step is receiving a license from the state’s Office of Cannabis Management, but that process has been delayed.
A lawsuit filed by a group of applicants, who were denied entry into the social equity pre-approval lottery, led to the temporary halt of the licensing process. These applicants argued that the process lacked clear criteria and the right to appeal, and a judge sided with them, halting the lottery just one day before it was set to take place. The lottery, which would have narrowed down more than 1,500 applicants to 282, has now been indefinitely postponed.
Impact of the Delay
For McPhillips, the legal battle has been frustrating. He had planned to watch the lottery with a colleague at one of his favorite bars, eagerly awaiting the results. “We had our numbers, and we were literally 24 hours away from them doing this,” McPhillips said, referring to the lottery’s anticipated live-stream event. “It would have been absolutely hilarious to sit in a bar and watch [the lottery] like the NBA Draft to see if we got a license.”
With the process now at a standstill, McPhillips finds himself in a waiting game, uncertain when the state will resume the process and issue licenses.
Le Sueur’s Growing Enthusiasm for the Cannabis Industry
McPhillips’s venture has the support of Le Sueur’s city leaders, who have been preparing for the cannabis industry since Minnesota legalized the product. In early 2024, McPhillips reached out to the city to discuss his plans for the Green Giant facility. The city had already updated its zoning ordinances to accommodate cannabis businesses, seeing the potential for such an industry to thrive in the area.
City Administrator Joe Roby shared his excitement about the prospects. “Really the cannabis industry is when you look at the licensures that Minnesota Valley Cannabis is going after, they’re really agribusiness-type licenses,” Roby said. “And agribusiness is something that we do really well in Le Sueur.”
Looking Forward
While McPhillips waits for the legal and licensing process to move forward, he remains optimistic about the future. He believes that Le Sueur, known for its strong agricultural roots, is the perfect place for a cannabis facility to flourish. Despite the setback, McPhillips remains committed to his vision of revitalizing the town with cannabis, just as the Green Giant plant once contributed to the town’s agricultural legacy.
As the state works through the legal challenges, McPhillips’s company continues to watch closely, hoping that the licensing process will soon proceed, allowing them to begin their operations and contribute to the local economy.
