New Owatonna biz offers local cannabis products

Opening a retail shop for the cannabis products grown on his family’s organic farm wasn’t in Lance Perkins’ plans–at least not this year. 

An opportunity to take over a space on Bridge Street in Owatonna–along with changes in the law–moved up a three-year timeline. The door to Southern Sota Wellness opened at the end of June.  

Born and raised outside New Richland, Perkins and his wife Kelsey own a five-acre farm. Lance’s parents, Curt and Julie Perkins, are also involved in the business. Inside the new shop, the wooden Minnesota-shaped front counter and a wall hanging are Julie Perkins’ handiwork. 

The Southern Sota Wellness story begins when Lance started organic vegetable farming more than 10 years ago.  

“I sold at the farmers market in Albert Lea and served on the board there for three years,” he said.  

Plants are grown in what Perkins calls “living soil,” without pesticides or any artificial products. The farm operates on a “closed loop,” with nutrients and organic materials going right back into the soil, he said.  

Once harvested, the cannabis plants are transported to a company in White Bear Lake that extracts the CBD and THC, which are returned in bottles.   

“We’re one of five farms in Minnesota that does seed to sale,” Perkins said. “That’s how we’re able to make sure we’re staying compliant and regulated.”  

Perkins’ interest in the cannabis plant started after CBD (cannabidiol, derived from cannabis plants) dramatically improved his ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder).  

“That opened my eyes,” he said. “It changed how I felt after I used it. The focus was there.”  

Through his own research, he learned more about the plant and how people used it for medicinal purposes.  

Medical marijuana has been legal in Minnesota since 2014. And in June this year, Gov. Tim Walz signed legislation that allows hemp businesses to sell products infused with CBD to anyone 21 or older, provided the level of THC (the plant’s psychoactive element) remains below .3%.  

Perkins leaves the ever-changing legal and financial aspects of the business to professionals.  

“We do stay up-to-date every day, seeing what’s going on at the capitol,” he said. “You have to learn the laws, regulations, and restrictions… To me, that’s where the fun is, I continue to learn.” 

Along with cannabis products, Southern Sota Wellness carries plant-based vitamins and immune support products that Perkins sources himself.  

“All vitamin C and vitamin D is not created the same,” he said. “I like to think that the way we go about growing our plants is the same way we look at our products. We want to make sure our consumers get the best.” 

CBD can be part of that picture, a tool in the toolbelt, Perkins added. When new customers walk through the door, he first asks about their interest in cannabis and what symptoms they may be looking to alleviate.  

“We try to go down to the core,” he said. “We have you start with certain things you can control (such as diet), and then look at whether adding CBD to your regimen may help.”  

The shop carries products to address problems like anxiety and depression, and to improve overall health and well-being. Every person is different, and what works well for one may not work at all for someone else.  

While some might assume the cannabis business is lucrative, Perkins said the cost of compliance eats up much of the profits. But he didn’t get into the business to make a fortune.  

“My goal was safe access to the cannabis plant,” he said. “I’m huge on health. We only have one body, so we should take care of it very well.”