I finally checked a major item off my cannabis bucket list on June 2nd 2026,  when I toured my very first indoor cultivation and manufacturing site.

Located in Brainerd, MN, along Highway 371, right by a gas station and across from Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf, sits Trailhead Cannabis. This dispensary shares a home with Smith Farms North, a 5,000-square-foot, vertically integrated facility that is helping define the next era of the state's cannabis industry. 

As they often say at Trailhead, the storefront is where your visit starts, but Smith Farms North is where the true craft takes place.

The moment I walked through the facility, one thing became immediately clear: growing high-quality cannabis takes patience, precision, and a lot more work than most consumers ever see.

Smith Farms North grows all of its cannabis indoors in small batches, focusing on specific cultivars such as Gorilla Glue #4, Cherry Ladyslipper, Trailhead Sunset and Northern Big Foot. Every plant is cultivated using a clean growing process centered around plant health and consistency.

I wish I could include a scratch-and-sniff feature in this article because the aroma throughout the facility was incredible. Each room had its own distinct scent profile, and the flowering plants filled the air with the unmistakable fragrance cannabis enthusiasts know and love. The buds themselves were dense, frosty, and visually impressive, a clear reflection of the care being put into every harvest.

Leading the tour was owner Thomas Smith, better known to many as "Trailhead Tom."

His enthusiasm for the operation was contagious as he walked us through every stage of cultivation. From rooms filled with mother plants and freshly cut clones to flowering rooms packed with thick, resin-covered buds, Tom's vision is to eventually allow visitors to see the entire lifecycle of cannabis, from clone to harvest.

While the finished products will ultimately be sold through Trailhead Cannabis, every plant begins its journey at Smith Farms North, located in the same building.

One of the most interesting parts of the tour was seeing how much intention goes into every stage of cultivation.

Smith Farms North operates on a carefully planned production cycle designed to maintain quality, consistency, and a steady supply of product for Trailhead Cannabis. Tom explained that their small-batch, craft-focused approach allows the team to stay hands-on throughout the growing process, something that can be difficult to replicate in larger operations.

Walking through the facility, it was easy to see the level of attention being given to each room. From young plants just getting started to flowering plants nearing harvest, every stage of growth is closely monitored to create the best possible product.

One of the biggest takeaways from the tour was learning just how much patience is involved in producing quality cannabis.

Growing the plant is only part of the journey. After harvest, the flower still needs time to dry, cure, and undergo Minnesota's required compliance testing before it can reach consumers. According to Smith, these post-harvest steps play a major role in the quality of the final product.

The process may take time, but that's part of the philosophy behind Smith Farms North. Rather than rushing products to market, the focus is on doing things the right way and delivering a consistent experience for customers when the flower finally reaches dispensary shelves.

At the time of my visit, Smith Farms North was preparing for its first harvest, expected at the end of June.

"Our first harvest will be at the end of June, so we will have our first products on shelves by the end of July," Smith said.

Until then, Trailhead Cannabis has been carrying products from Lake Leaf Cultivation while preparing for its own flower to hit the market.

One final detail worth mentioning: Trailhead Cannabis was the first dispensary to sell the Green Standard, so for that, us at Canna Connect are eternally grateful. 

What stood out most during my visit wasn't just the technology or the cultivation process, it was the passion behind it.

Minnesota's cannabis industry is still growing, and facilities like Smith Farms North offer a glimpse into what the future of local, craft cannabis could look like. Seeing the process firsthand gave me a much deeper appreciation for the amount of care, planning, and patience required to bring a single cannabis plant from clone to consumer.

For a first cultivation tour, I couldn't have asked for a better introduction.

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