A small, unassuming suburb of Minneapolis has made U.S. cannabis history.
Anoka, Minnesota, is home to the first municipally owned-and-operated dispensary in the country – a milestone that reflects not just Minnesota’s evolving marijuana landscape, but a unique approach to serving the community through cannabis. The city council approved the project in early 2025 and broke ground on the dispensary construction that May; in February 2026, Anoka Cannabis Company celebrated its grand opening and ushered in a new era of cannabis retail.
Cannabis by the Community, for the Community
Anoka Cannabis Company operates under a standard retail license with one crucial difference: it is owned by the City of Anoka itself. Rather than profits flowing to private owners or investors, revenue is reinvested directly into the community. Road projects, parks, public infrastructure, education, and services all benefit from the dispensary’s profits.
“For us, cannabis isn’t just commerce,” says Stephanie Rietz, the dispensary’s general manager. “It’s a way to support our community in a very tangible way.”
This community-centered approach shapes practically every operational decision. Half of Anoka Cannabis Company’s inventory is reserved for products from microbusinesses, social equity operators, and women, LGBTQIA+, and veteran-owned brands. As Stephanie explains, it allows the company to not only support the local Anoka community, but also help boost those smaller businesses’ visibility since they often struggle for shelf space in new markets.
Sustainability is another pillar of Anoka’s operation. The facility operates at up to 88% solar power, features native pollinator gardens, and prioritizes environmentally responsible design.
Even tipping works differently at Anoka. Because the dispensary’s staff are all city employees, traditional tip jars aren’t allowed. Instead, Anoka Cannabis Company uses rotating donation jars that direct customer generosity to local charities and initiatives.
“The first donation jar is going to a local organization called the ACBC Food Shelf,” Stephanie explains. “They help families experiencing food insecurity to be able to provide food for their home.
“At the end of the day, everything we do is about giving back,” she says. “That’s the whole point.”
Why Anoka Chose Cova as a Technology Partner
After a decade of working with cannabis retail tech systems in Colorado, Stephanie had firsthand experience with platforms that were clunky, unreliable, and overly rigid.
“I’ve worked with a lot of point-of-sale systems where the POS shouldn’t stand for point of sale, if you know what I mean,” she says. “Some of them were so confusing they felt like they were built for an auto shop, not a dispensary. And in cannabis, if your inventory is off, regulators are going to notice.”
While several vendors were eliminated outright based on Stephanie’s prior experience, she says Cova stood out for three key reasons:
- Flexibility through integrations. Anoka needed a system that could adapt to unique municipal requirements. Cova’s open ecosystem allowed seamless integration with tools like Solink for security and Alpine IQ for loyalty, enabling a custom rewards structure aligned with local government rules.
- Ease of use. Cova’s intuitive interface means Anoka staff can focus on customers, not fighting with the system.
- Value. “We looked at a few systems where the cost was very high for what you were actually getting,” Stephanie says. “We’re willing to spend the money, but only if the system actually delivers. Cova checked every box.”
Of course, any product is only as good as the team behind it. “Every new market is different, and Minnesota is brand new,” Stephanie notes. “We’ve hit some bumps, but Cova has been responsive and supportive every step of the way.”
Building Community Amid Uncertainty
Anoka Cannabis Company is more than just a retail operation. It’s a groundbreaking civic project demonstrating how local governments can integrate cannabis into their communities responsibly, transparently, and compassionately – especially amid uncertainty and disruption. For Stephanie, it represents the culmination of decades of advocacy, industry experience, and belief in cannabis’ healing potential.
“For all the regulation and complexity, it’s just a plant at the end of the day,” she says. “I’ve been advocating for legalization since my high school debate team days 20 years ago. I’m a military brat, so I’m very connected to the veteran world, and I understand firsthand the healing benefits that cannabis offers.”
With Cova as its technology foundation, Anoka Cannabis Company is focused on what comes next: refining operations, supporting small brands, serving its community, and proving that a municipal cannabis model can work.
Ready to see how Cova can help elevate your dispensary’s game? Book a free demo today and learn how the right tech partner can make all the difference.