Yes, Rochester currently has one marijuana dispensary, a medical cannabis dispensary. While medical cannabis has been legal in Minnesota since 2014, recreational marijuana only just became legal and adult-use cannabis dispensaries are set to start operating in 2025. The marijuana dispensary in the city currently serves only patients with certain debilitating medical conditions who must be enrolled in the Minnesota Medical Cannabis Program.
Yes, one of Minnesota's medical marijuana dispensaries currently sells medical cannabis to qualified medical patients in Rochester. In 2014, Minnesota became the 22nd state in the U.S. to legalize medical cannabis after it enacted SF 2470, granting patients some access to medicinal marijuana. After the passage of the medical cannabis bill, the Minnesota Department of Health created the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). This office was tasked with implementing SF 2470. It also sought the establishment of medical cannabis manufacturers in 2014.
Although medical marijuana patients can buy medical cannabis from online weed dispensaries in Rochester, no cannabis dispensary in Minnesota may deliver such orders to the patients' local addresses. After ordering medical cannabis online in Rochester, medical patients can pick up their orders at the dispensary or have their caregivers pick them up for delivery. The current Minnesota medical cannabis law does not restrict medical patients in Rochester from buying a particular type of weed product from weed dispensaries online.
Visiting a medical marijuana dispensary in Rochester, MN, is a bit different from what operates in other states with medical marijuana programs. Typically, a medical patient in Rochester is required to log on to their medical cannabis registry account and complete a Patient Self-Evaluation Report using the Medical Cannabis Registry Portal. They must do this each time they want to purchase medical cannabis. After completing and submitting the evaluation form online, the patient can schedule an appointment to visit the cannabis dispensary in Rochester.
During their visit to the medical cannabis dispensary, a pharmacist at the dispensary will review the patient's registry account before recommending a cannabis medication. To avoid delay at the dispensary, a patient may consult with the pharmacist over the telephone or via other remote means, such as videoconference, before visiting the dispensary. The patient must provide the following when visiting the medical marijuana dispensary in Rochester:
Currently, in Rochester, only a business approved by the Minnesota Department of Health can legally operate a cannabis dispensary, otherwise called a cannabis patient center. Cannabis dispensaries in Minnesota are highly regulated. The state law requires any business entity that intends to engage in cannabis sales to maintain a minimum of four locations, making entry into the state's marijuana industry difficult for new cannabis companies. Minnesota laws restrain weed dispensaries in Rochester from delivering medical cannabis to patients at home. However, the state’s recreational marijuana law makes allowance for weed delivery.
As contained in Section 9. (152.29) of the Minnesota Session Laws - 2014, the following are some of the Rochester dispensary laws:
Recreational cannabis was legalized in Minnesota on August 1, 2025 with the first legal sales set to happen in 2025. According to the state’s adult-use cannabis law, only those aged 21 or over can consume marijuana for recreational purposes. The Minnesota recreational marijuana law allows eligible adults to possess up to 2 ounces of cannabis flower, 8 grams of concentrate, or 800 milligrams of edibles in public. In their private residences, they can possess up to 2 pounds of cannabis flower. Minnesota also permits home cultivation of recreational cannabis. Adults, who are at least 21 years old, may cultivate up to 8 cannabis plants for personal use. Out of these, no more than 4 cannabis plants may be flowering at any time.
The following are some of the medical cannabis laws in Rochester:
Minnesota does not issue medical marijuana cards to eligible patients under its medical marijuana program. Instead, medical cannabis patients only need to enroll in the state's medical cannabis program in order to access medical marijuana in Rochester dispensaries. A patient must suffer from one or more of the following eligible medical conditions in Rochester to be able to enroll in the state's Medical Cannabis Program:
The following are steps a qualified medical marijuana patient in Rochester can take to enroll in the Minnesota Medical Cannabis Program:
The patient will get a notification from the Office of Cannabis Management by email once the office approves their application (usually within 30 days). Since Minnesota does not issue medical cannabis cards, medical marijuana patients in Rochester who want evidence of participation in the state's medical cannabis program can print a verification document from their registry account. The Minnesota Department of Health provides a detailed guide (Step 3) on accessing the medical cannabis registry verification document.
Minnesota mandates cannabis use in private residences. Generally, Minnesota prohibits smoking or vaping cannabis in public spaces, including on public transportation or where it is illegal to smoke tobacco. Also, because marijuana remains banned at the federal level, it is illegal for Rochester residents to use cannabis on federal properties within the city. Hence, individuals living in federally assisted housing owned by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development cannot use marijuana, including medical cannabis, on such properties.
Cannabis patients must complete a Patient Self-Evaluation Report from their cannabis registry accounts each time they want to buy medical cannabis at weed dispensaries in Rochester. After completing the self-evaluation report, they can book an appointment with their choice dispensary in Rochester. A pharmacist at the dispensary will check the patient's registry account before recommending any cannabis medication.
A high-quality weed in Rochester costs about $325 per ounce, while consumers will get medium-quality cannabis at an average of $275 per ounce.
Popular weed strains in Rochester include blue dream, blue cheese, banana kush, girl scout, Durban poison, white widow, Zkittlez, northern lights, Afghan kush, and Gorilla glue.
No, smoking cannabis, including medical cannabis, in public is prohibited in Rochester.
Cannabis patients can possess any amount of medical cannabis prescribed for them under the Minnesota medical cannabis program. Adults, aged 21 or over, can possess up to 2 ounces of cannabis flower (or 8 grams of concentrate or 800 milligrams of edible) in public in Rochester. In private, the state’s recreational marijuana law allows eligible adults to possess as much as 2 pounds of cannabis flower.
No. It is illegal to ship cannabis across state lines into or out of Rochester because marijuana remains illegal at the federal level.
Yes, cannabis patients can order marijuana online from weed dispensaries in Rochester. However, they will have to visit the dispensary to pick up their orders as they are not allowed to deliver cannabis to local addresses. Minnesota’s recreational cannabis law allows for home delivery of weed orders. Therefore, when adult-use cannabis retailers open in Rochester, they may allow eligible adults to order weed online and have their orders delivered to their home addresses.
Minnesota cannabis law is not explicit about 24-hour dispensary operations. Hence, dispensaries in Rochester may operate 24 hours a day if they want. However, per Section 4770.0700 of the Minnesota Administrative Rules, the Commissioner of the state's Department of Health may limit their hours of operation if they believe doing so protects public safety.
Out-of-state tourists cannot use the medical cannabis dispensary in Rochester because Minnesota does not accept MMJ cards from other states. However, a person visiting Rochester from other parts of Minnesota can use a dispensary in the city, provided they are enrolled in the state's medical marijuana program.
Yes. Cannabis patients must provide valid government-issued photo identification while visiting marijuana dispensaries in Rochester.
Currently, the only cannabis dispensary in Rochester is operated by Green Goods.
While it is not mandatory, dispensaries in Rochester may scan cannabis patients' IDs to record and register their visits.
There is currently one licensed medical cannabis dispensary in Rochester
No, cannabis dispensaries in Rochester accept only cash and debit card (with pin) payments.
There is currently only one cannabis dispensary in Rochester where cannabis patients can visit for their cannabis medications.
No. Cannabis dispensaries in Rochester do not accept health insurance for payment of medical cannabis products because medical insurance companies operate under federal laws, and marijuana is federally illegal.
Yes. Minnesota mandates dispensaries to track weed purchases.
Yes. Patients 18 years or older enrolled in the Minnesota Medical Marijuana Program can enter cannabis dispensaries in Rochester.
Rochester cannabis regulator's contact is available on the Minnesota Department of Health website. Persons interested in contacting the state's Department of Health can do so at (844) 879-3381 (toll-free) or (651) 201-5598, Mondays through Fridays, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Alternatively, they may contact the department via email or send a mail to:
Office of Cannabis Management
P.O. Box 64882
St. Paul, MN 55164-0882
Rochester residents can report illegal cannabis activities to the Rochester Police Department at (507) 328-6800 or call the narcotics tip line at (507) 328-6760 (voicemail only). Alternatively, they may contact the Minnesota Department of Health at (844) 879-3381 (toll-free) or (651) 201-5598.