Moorhead Adapts to New Cannabis Laws in Minnesota

Moorhead City Council has passed the first reading of an ordinance to comply with the new cannabis laws in Minnesota. The ordinance aims to update the regulations, requirements, and offenses related to cannabis sales and use in the city. The new cannabis laws in Minnesota legalized the adult recreational use of cannabis, lifted the criminal penalties for possession and cultivation, and legalized drug paraphernalia.

Moorhead City Council has passed the first reading of an ordinance to update the regulations, requirements, and offenses related to cannabis sales and use in the city. The ordinance is based on the recommendations of a city cannabis work group, which studied the new cannabis laws in Minnesota and their implications for the city.

The ordinance includes the following changes:

• Repealing the city’s social responsibility fee, which charged six per cent of the gross sales of cannabis retailers to fund public education, safety, health, and addiction programs. The fee will be repealed in January 2024, in accordance with the state law.
• Revising the city’s zoning and conditional use requirements for cannabis-related businesses, such as dispensaries, lounges, and delivery services. The city will not impose any license limits or buffer zones for cannabis-related businesses, but will monitor their locations and impacts.
• Amending the city’s offenses and penalties for cannabis use and possession, to align with the state law. The city will no longer enforce the criminal penalties for adult possession of up to one ounce of cannabis, or home cultivation of up to four plants per household. The city will also no longer prohibit drug paraphernalia, such as pipes, bongs, and vaporizers.

The ordinance will have a second reading and a public hearing on February 28, before it can be adopted by the city council.

Moorhead City Council Prepares for Cannabis Sales

Moorhead City Council is also preparing for the legal sale of cannabis in the city, which is expected to begin in 2025. The state law requires the Office of Cannabis Management to issue the rules and regulations for cannabis-related businesses by January 2024, and to start issuing the licenses by July 2024.

The city council is planning to work with the state and the industry to ensure the quality, safety, and transparency of cannabis products, and to protect the rights and interests of the cannabis users and non-users. The city council is also planning to provide more information and education to the public on the effects and risks of cannabis products, and to promote the responsible and informed consumption of cannabis products.

The city council is also expecting to receive more revenue from the cannabis sales, which will be subject to the state and local taxes. The city council is considering how to allocate the revenue for the city’s needs and priorities, such as infrastructure, public safety, and social services.

Moorhead City Council Responds to Cannabis Trends

Moorhead City Council is also responding to the cannabis trends and issues that have emerged since the legalization of cannabis in Minnesota. The city council is aware of the challenges and opportunities that cannabis presents for the city and the community, and is committed to ensuring a safe and responsible cannabis market in Moorhead.

Some of the trends and issues that the city council is addressing include:

• The increase in cannabis exposure calls, which are calls made to poison centers when someone has consumed or inhaled cannabis products and experiences negative effects. The city council is working with the poison centers, the health care providers, and the responders to provide more timely and effective response and treatment of cannabis exposure cases, and to reduce the morbidity and mortality of cannabis exposure.
• The rise in cannabis use among children and teens, who are more vulnerable to the effects and harms of cannabis products, especially the newer and more potent ones, such as edibles, oils, and synthetic cannabinoids. The city council is working with the parents, caregivers, schools, and youth organizations to prevent and reduce the access and exposure of children and teens to cannabis products, and to provide more counseling and referral for the cannabis users and their families.
• The competition with the illegal market, which still offers cheaper and more convenient alternatives to the legal cannabis products. The city council is working with the law enforcement, the courts, and the community to enforce and comply with the cannabis laws and rules, and to deter and prosecute the illegal and unsafe cannabis use and distribution.

Cannabis is a new and evolving industry in Minnesota, and Moorhead is adapting to the new cannabis laws and realities. Moorhead City Council is taking the necessary steps to comply with the new cannabis laws, to prepare for the cannabis sales, and to respond to the cannabis trends and issues. Moorhead City Council is also seeking the input and feedback from the public and the stakeholders on the cannabis matters, and is open to dialogue and collaboration with the state and the industry.

For more information on Moorhead City Council and the cannabis ordinance, visit kvrr.com.