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Rules are starting to take shape for the fast-approaching marijuana industry in Minnesota.  Local officials have opted for either;  pacing their jurisdiction to not accept applications (moratorium) for retail until the end of the year (see Wyoming City Council story this week) or townships mostly  are waiting for the county to take the lead.  

The state has identified two types of cannabis businesses and different enforcement authorities;  citing there are municipal cannabis stores and then there are stores that fall under county jurisdiction, in areas that are not writing their own code nor doing inspections.  

The state Office of Cannabis Management just announced the first of cannabis retail licenses will  open for applications July 24 through August 12.  The lottery for awarding these licenses based on “social equity” candidates is happening in fall 2024.

So, the county board hears this clock ticking— and last week briefly reviewed some new potential cannabis ordinance stipulations.    

All five commissioners agreed the county will impose a five-business limit, based on the statute that set a ground floor on cannabis businesses at one per 12,500 population.  Municipally-regulated cannabis shops are not  counted within that five limit.   

State law allows the regulators, whether it’s a municipal or county code, to impose whatever “reasonable restrictions” it desires on the businesses.  This is where the rubber hits the road.  Commissioner Ben Montzka commented he’d like cannabis regulated along the lines of tobacco/alcohol sales conditions and the other commissioners agreed.  

The sheriff’s office and county public health need to weigh in on aspects of their duty under state law,  and inform the ordinance writers exactly what they need in order to do background checks, compliance visits and other enforcement duties.

The new regulations also need to address “special events” allowing public consumption of cannabis and what the fee will be.

An extensive model set of rules has been supplied by state Office of Cannabis Management to start the conversations.

Commissioners asked what the soonest would be that the planning commission could get ordinance wording to the Board.  The earliest the Board might see a recommendation for county-controlled cannabis business setback, zoning, operational terms and more would be August 7. 

 The advisory county planning commission will make the task a priority, staff promised the Board.

Any sale of cannabis ahead of being licensed by the state or before it’s sanctioned by a county/municipality is a violation of law.  

A fine under state statute can be in excess of $1 million,  but Chisago County will establish fines as part of the ordinance it is working to adopt.

The state meanwhile, declared trained inspectors will be “in the field” in coming months.

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