About Grey Cloud Rhizomes Cooperative

Grey Cloud Rhizomes Cooperative is an emerging worker-owned cannabis business grounded in ecological stewardship, equity, and collective ownership. We cultivate premium cannabis and produce solventless hash oils using permaculture-based methods and only organic products that protect soil health and local watersheds.

Our vertically integrated model allows us to grow, process, and sell on-site, reducing our carbon footprint while maximizing value for both workers and consumers. Rooted in the belief that business can serve people and the planet, we aim to demonstrate that worker ownership and environmental sustainability can coexist with quality and profitability in Minnesota’s nascent cannabis industry.

Founding Board Member Role

Grey Cloud Rhizomes Cooperative is in its formation stage and is seeking founding board members to help shape the vision, structure, and strategy of a new worker-owned cannabis enterprise rooted in ecological sustainability and economic equity.

Founding board members will work alongside the lead organizer and early cooperative members to guide the business from feasibility through capitalization, launch, and early operations. This includes helping design governance systems, refining the business model, and supporting key decisions that will define the cooperative’s future. It is a hands-on, collaborative role for people who believe in cooperative ownership, sustainable cultivation, and community-rooted entrepreneurship.

Risk and Realities

The cooperative will be established and operate in a highly regulated and evolving industry. Federal prohibition creates legal, financial, and operational uncertainty. State and local licensing and zoning rules may change, which can delay operations or require costly pivots. Real estate availability is limited by distance requirements from schools, parks, and other sensitive uses, which narrows site options and can increase costs.


Access to banking, insurance, and traditional financing remains constrained until federal reforms occur. Compliance requirements, including tracking, testing, packaging, and reporting, are rigorous and time-intensive. Effective governance, compliance vigilance, and adaptive strategy will be essential to manage these risks and support sustainable growth.

Key Responsibilities

  • Participate in feasibility discussions and early-stage planning related to the business model, governance, and capitalization strategy.

  • Contribute skills, networks, and ideas to strengthen the cooperative’s foundation, such as business development, compliance, finance, marketing, or operations.

  • Co-create the cooperative’s bylaws, membership structure, and cooperative policies.
    Support community engagement, fundraising, and advocacy efforts aligned with the cooperative’s mission and values.

  • Serve as an ambassador for the cooperative, helping build relationships with potential partners, advisors, investors, and supporters.

  • Provide strategic guidance as the cooperative moves from planning to launch and early operations.

Ideal Qualities

  • Alignment with the cooperative’s mission of ecological stewardship, equity, and shared ownership.

  • Willingness to co-create and learn within a dynamic, early-stage environment.

  • Experience or strong interest in one or more areas: cannabis, cooperative development, small business operations, social enterprise, or environmental sustainability.

  • Commitment to collaboration, transparency, shared responsibility and democratic leadership.
    Comfort engaging in constructive dialogue, mutual accountability, and navigating conflict with respect, curiosity, and in service of shared goals.

  • A practical, solutions-oriented mindset and readiness to engage in hands-on startup work.

Skills and Experience Priorities

We’re especially interested in individuals who can help fill current skills gaps in digital marketing and social media strategy, cooperative development, and retail business management and acumen. Experience in financial management, community engagement, or cannabis regulation is also welcome.

Time Commitment

This is an organizing and development role. Founding board members should expect to participate in biweekly or monthly planning meetings (in person or virtual) and dedicate at least 5 to 10 hours per month to cooperative development on a volunteer-basis through the feasibility, capitalization, and pre-launch phases.

Term and Transition

Founding board members will serve through the cooperative’s development process, from feasibility through capitalization and launch, helping establish the systems that will later guide member governance. Once the business is operational and worker-owners are onboarded, board leadership will transition to an elected board chosen by the member-owners.

Pathway to Employment and Ownership

Grey Cloud Rhizomes is being built with the intention that some founding board members may transition into paid employment once the cooperative begins operations. Those who become employees will continue play a central role in establishing the cooperative’s culture, systems, and daily practices.

After employees have satisfied the cooperative’s membership eligibility criteria, they will have the option to begin the process of becoming worker-owners. This process will include a defined onboarding and education period, followed by formal admission as a member-owner in accordance with the cooperative’s bylaws. Worker-owners will share in governance, decision-making, and the long-term success of the cooperative.

How to Get Involved

If you’re inspired by the vision of a worker-owned, ecologically sustainable cannabis cooperative and want to play a part in bringing it to life, we’d love to connect. Founding board members will be selected based on alignment with the cooperative’s mission, commitment to shared ownership, and readiness to engage in the startup process.

To express interest or learn more, please fill out the form below.