The scene unfolding in Minnesota has drawn national attention in recent weeks, as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has carried out a surge of enforcement activity across the state. Reports of widespread detention, the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent, and the violent treatment of protesters and observers have intensified scrutiny. Tensions escalated further with the arrest of activists, including civil rights attorney and hemp operator Nekima Levy Armstrong, after a demonstration at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minn., where an ICE official serves as pastor. Now, Minnesota’s cannabis community is rallying around Levy Armstrong and speaking out about her arrest.
RELATED: Congress moves to delay federal hemp ban
Levy Armstrong, the owner of infused-edibles brand Dope Roots, has been a prominent figure in Minnesota’s emerging cannabis and hemp market. Many fellow operators were stunned by her arrest on federal charges. Leah Kollross, founder of beverage enhancer brand 23rd State, told GreenState she was devastated by the news.
“Beyond her work as a civil rights activist, Nekima has been a critical advocate for Minnesota’s hemp and cannabis industry,” Kollross said. “She has consistently shown up for small businesses, especially women in cannabis, helping ensure this industry is rooted in fairness, access, and accountability.”
Advocate Jamie Croyle called Levy Armstrong part of the backbone of the local cannabis movement.
“Her voice does not just matter; it ignites change,” Croyle said. “[Levy Armstrong] has been a foundational and strong voice for communities harmed by prohibition, for women, and for people who are too often talked over or left out entirely. She speaks when others cannot and says what needs to be said, even when it is uncomfortable.”
RELATED: ‘Very messy’: New York cannabis rocked by regulatory chaos
Attorney General Pam Bondi praised the arrests, citing the disruption of a church as the need for protection, despite the obvious irony that ICE has begun conducting raids at churches. The group faces federal charges for violating civil rights in what Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon described as “desecrating a house of worship and interfering with Christian worshippers.”
Mark Waller, partner at accounting firm Morem & Waller, said Levy Armstrong’s arrest was both alarming and galvanizing.
“It was shocking to me to see Nekima’s arrest,” Waller shared. “That said, I’m incredibly inspired by her bravery in the face of injustice and hope her actions carry forward not just in Minnesota but in the country at large.”
Several operators said the arrest reflects a broader pattern of targeting those who speak out.
“Nekima Levy Armstrong is not the problem—she is a protector, a truth-teller, and a pillar of our community,” said Veronika Alfaro, founder of cannabis brand Mi Sota Essence.
“Watching her arrest reminds us that we are going after the wrong people, those who speak up for humanity instead of addressing the real sources of harm,” Alfaro added. “This is not normal, and it should not be accepted.”
RELATED: In Texas cannabis, one product is getting an advantage
Kollross shared these sentiments, saying she stands with Levy Armstrong and others who have chosen to publicly oppose ICE actions.
“To see someone so committed to justice and community well-being treated as a criminal is heartbreaking,” Kollross said. “Silencing voices that demand accountability does not create safety or peace. It only deepens harm.”
Ghislane Ball, creator of the Terpene Tasting Kit, told GreenState Levy Armstrong’s influence likely intimidated the people she spoke out against.
“Weak men have always, and will always fear and (bless their hearts) underestimate powerful women,” Ball shared. “Of course they arrested her.”
GreenState has reached out to Levy Armstrong for comment and will update this story if and when she responds.
For many Minnesota cannabis operators, the arrest of one of their own has become a flashpoint and yet another example of the broader impact of the ICE surge in the state.
