(Photo: MPR)
FARMINGTON, Minn. — April 22, 2026
Minnesota cannabis operators Richard Brama and Josh Kasprzyk have moved forward with a new cultivation facility in St. Paul while continuing a legal battle with Eureka Township over the denial of their original greenhouse project near Farmington.
The dispute stems from the township’s rejection of a proposed cannabis cultivation operation at a 12.5-acre greenhouse site that had previously been used for hemp production under the pair’s company, BKR Brands. The property sat idle for more than a year after local permitting issues halted expansion plans tied to Minnesota’s newly legalized adult-use cannabis market.
Kasprzyk and Brama had secured one of the state’s limited cannabis cultivation licenses through a lottery process, positioning their operation for early entry into the market. However, they were unable to obtain final approval from Eureka Township, which required an interim use permit before construction and cultivation could proceed.
After months of planning meetings, legal fees, and design work, township officials ultimately denied the application. The decision cited concerns including zoning compatibility, traffic impacts, neighboring property objections, and compliance with local building standards.
The operators later filed a lawsuit, arguing that the denial effectively prevented them from operating a licensed cannabis business in violation of Minnesota law, which allows local governments to regulate cannabis operations but not prohibit them outright.
Township officials have maintained that the decision was based on land-use and regulatory concerns rather than opposition to cannabis itself.
The case has become part of a broader wave of legal disputes across Minnesota as municipalities and cannabis businesses navigate the rollout of the state’s recreational marijuana industry. Similar conflicts have emerged in other cities and townships, where local governments have imposed restrictions or denied approvals for cannabis-related operations.
State lawmakers have acknowledged the tension between local control and statewide legalization, with some pushing for legislation that would limit delays in municipal approval processes.
While the lawsuit continues, Brama and Kasprzyk have shifted operations to a converted agricultural facility in St. Paul, where they are preparing to begin cultivation. The move allows them to stay on track as Minnesota’s cannabis market expands and early entry opportunities narrow.
Despite the relocation, the operators say they still hope to eventually use the Farmington greenhouse site.
“The damage has been done,” Brama said previously, referring to the financial and operational setbacks caused by the delay.
For now, the St. Paul facility serves as the company’s primary cultivation site as the legal dispute over the original property moves forward in court.