HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 23-06 Cannabis MoratoriumCITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS
RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA
ORDINANCE NO.23-06
AN INTERIM ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE OPERATION OF CANNABIS
BUSINESSES
The City Council of the City of Falcon Heights does ordain:
SECTION 1. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
A. By enacting 2023 Session Laws Chapter 63, the Minnesota Legislature enacted Minn.
Stat. chapter 342, legalizing adult -use cannabis and permitting the operation of cannabis businesses
and the sale of cannabis flower and cannabis products for human consumption. This law creates a
new agency, the Office of Cannabis Management, to regulate the sales of cannabis products.
B. The new law does enact some requirements for production, labeling and testing, and
sale of cannabis products at the state government level. However, the new law creates uncertainty that
will need to be resolved by the passage of further regulations by the Office.
C. The new law establishes that the sale of cannabis products is still subject to local
planning and zoning restrictions, and must comply with local zoning code. The new law provides no
guidance on how cities are to zone the new businesses, leaving it to local control.
D. Pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 342.13, the City is authorized to adopt an interim ordinance
protecting the planning process and the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens. Under Section
342.13, such ordinance may remain in effect until January 1, 2025.
E. Pursuant to its general police powers, including but not limited to, Minn. Stat.
§ 421.221, subd. 32, the City may enact regulations regarding to promote the health, safety, order,
convenience, and the general welfare of the City. This power permits the City to implement a
moratorium to study the sales, testing, manufacturing, and distribution of cannabis products to
determine if regulations are necessary for the sake of good order of the City.
F. The City Council finds that it is necessary to study the application of 2023 Session
Laws Chapter 63, and the products, uses, and businesses related thereto, in order to assess the
necessity for and efficacy of regulation and restrictions relating to the sales, testing, manufacturing,
and distribution of cannabis flower, cannabis products, and lower -potency products including through
zoning ordinances, in order to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of its residents.
SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS: The following terms when used in this ordinance shall mean:
Official controls. "Official controls" or "controls" means ordinances and regulations which
control the physical development of the city or any part thereof or any detail thereof and
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implement the general objectives of the comprehensive plan. Official controls include
ordinances establishing zoning, subdivision controls, site plan regulations, sanitary codes,
building codes and official maps.
Cannabis Business. "Cannabis Business" has the meaning given in Minn. Stat. § 342.01,
subd. 14.
Cannabis Flower. "Cannabis Flower" means the harvested flower, bud, leaves, and stems
of a cannabis plant.
Cannabis Product. "Cannabis Product" means a product infused with cannabinoids,
including but not limited to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), including hemp -derived
cannabinoids.
SECTION 3. INTENT AND AUTHORIZATION:
A. It is the intent of this ordinance to allow the City of Falcon Heights time to complete
an in-depth study concerning adoption of revisions of the City's official controls for the
manufacturing, testing, distributing, and selling of Cannabis Flower and Cannabis Products, and the
operation of Cannabis Businesses.
B. City staff is directed and authorized to conduct a study of the City's official controls
that may need to be adopted or amended to protect the public health, safety, and welfare as they relate
to the manufacturing, testing, distributing, and selling of Cannabis Flower and Cannabis Products,
and the operation of Cannabis Businesses.
SECTION 4. TEMPORARY PROHIBITION:
A. Pending the completion of the above referenced study and the adoption of appropriate
official controls, the following is prohibited within the City:
The manufacturing, distributing, and selling of Cannabis Flower and Cannabis Products, and
the operation of any Cannabis Business.
B. This moratorium does not apply to the selling, testing, manufacturing, or distributing
of THC Products related to the Medical Cannabis Program as administered by the Minnesota
Department of Health, provided that such activity is done in accordance with the regulations and
laws of Minnesota regarding Medical Cannabis.
SECTION 5. ENFORCEMENT. The City may enforce this Ordinance by mandamus,
injunctive relief, or other appropriate civil remedy in any court of competent jurisdiction. The City
Council hereby authorizes the City Administrator, in consultation with the City Attorney, to initiate
any legal action deemed necessary to secure compliance with this Ordinance. A violation of this
Ordinance is also subject to the City's general penalty in City Code § 1-7 et seq.
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SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE: This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its
passage and shall remain in effect until January 1, 2025, or until the adoption of the official controls
being studied, whichever occurs first.
ADOPTED this 2.1 day of e c, 2023 by the City Council for the City of Falcon
Heights.
ATTEST;
ity Administrator
CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS
Q
andy G 71son, Mayor
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