In a lengthy and detailed discussion during the Tuesday, Aug. 6 Morrison County Board of Commissioners planning session, officials wrestled with the multifaceted challenges of regulating the cannabis industry in the county following the legalization of recreational marijuana in Minnesota.
The commissioners are considering implementing a moratorium on cannabis businesses in the county until Jan. 1, 2025, in order to allow time for a thorough study and development of appropriate regulations. The proposed moratorium would apply to the unincorporated areas of the county, as cities and townships would have the ability to set their own zoning and licensing rules for cannabis businesses within their jurisdictions.
The commissioners delved into the complexities of coordinating with the county's 16 incorporated cities and 16 townships, each of which has varying levels of zoning authority and capacity to regulate cannabis businesses. Land Services Director Amy Kowalzek noted that some smaller cities may lack the resources to establish their own cannabis regulations, potentially leaving it up to the county to provide a framework.
The commissioners also grappled with the specifics of the state's cannabis legislation, which requires Morrison County to allow at least three retail cannabis businesses because of its population size. However, the law provides counties with the authority to impose reasonable restrictions on the time, place and manner of cannabis business operations, as well as set distance requirements from schools, daycares and other sensitive areas.
“Because of our population, we must allow at least three,” Kowalzek said. “If we vote, we can say, ‘OK, we're gonna allow three. That's all we're gonna allow.’ We also have the opportunity to do that.”
The commissioners expressed concerns about the potential costs and complexities of the licensing process, with Commissioner Randy Winscher suggesting that the state's $10,000 license fee for cannabis manufacturers could make it difficult for small businesses to enter the market.
The commissioners also discussed the potential impact on townships, with Administrator Matt LeBlanc noting that many townships in Morrison County meet only once a month, which may not provide them with the capacity to handle the 30-day timeline for cannabis business requests under the state law.
The commissioners agreed that the next steps would involve conducting a comprehensive study on cannabis regulations, coordinating with cities and townships and potentially adopting the proposed moratorium to provide time for the development of appropriate local controls. The Board is expected to vote on the moratorium ordinance at its next meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 13 as part of its consent agenda.
"We've discussed this now for 23 minutes, which only has told me one thing: We’ve got to have a moratorium, because none of us know the answer to these questions,” said Commissioner Jeffrey Jelinski. “And I'm certainly not going to pretend to be any authority, because I am not.”
The commissioners acknowledged the significant work that lies ahead, with a timeline of just 100 days or less to establish the necessary regulations before the moratorium expires on Jan. 1, 2025. As the county navigates this uncharted territory, the commissioners emphasized the importance of collaboration and coordination with local municipalities to ensure a cohesive and effective approach to regulating the cannabis industry in Morrison County.
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