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<br /> <br /> STAFF REPORT <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />TO: Mayor Fischer and Members of the City Council <br /> <br />FROM: Heidi Heller, City Clerk/HR Manager <br /> <br />DATE: September 13, 2023 <br /> <br />RE: Public Hearing – Ordinance 876, Authorizing a Study and Imposing a Moratorium on <br />Cannabis Businesses <br /> <br /> <br />ACTION TO BE CONSIDERED <br />Adopt Ordinance 876, an interim ordinance authorizing a study and imposing a moratorium on <br />establishing cannabis businesses in Little Canada. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br />During the 2023 legislative session of the Minnesota Legislature, Chapter 63 – H.F. No. 100 was <br />passed legalizing adult use of cannabis as of August 1, 2023. The Office of Cannabis Management has <br />been established by the State and will be the agency responsible for licensing the cannabis industry in <br />Minnesota. This office will not be ready to issue licenses for any type of cannabis businesses until <br />approximately January 2025. <br /> <br />Pursuant to M.S. 462.355, the City Council may impose a moratorium to regulate, restrict, or prohibit <br />the operation of Cannabis Businesses within the jurisdiction or a portion thereof until January 1, 2025. <br />A public hearing is required to be held prior to adopting this interim ordinance. <br /> <br />City staff is recommending that Council adopt an interim ordinance that authorizes a study to review <br />zoning and licensing requirements for potential future cannabis businesses in the city, and prohibits the <br />establishment of a new cannabis business, or the expansion of an already existing use into a cannabis <br />business, until January 1, 2025. Discussion on zoning and licensing of cannabis and cannabinoid <br />products will be planned for a future Council workshop. Ordinance 876 will either expire on January <br />1, 2025, or can be terminated earlier by City Council action. Staff recommends that this ordinance <br />remain in effect until after any requirements for cannabinoid businesses are determined and adopted, <br />which will occur no later than January 1, 2025. <br /> <br />Many cities in Minnesota have already or are in the process of adopting similar moratoriums: <br /> <br /> Arden Hills Vadnais Heights Maplewood <br /> Stillwater Mounds View White Bear Lake <br /> Oakdale Mahtomedi Lauderdale <br /> St. Anthony Cottage Grove New Brighton <br /> Falcon Heights Stacy Lakeland <br /> Nisswa Echo Wahkon <br />