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<br /> <br /> STAFF REPORT <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />TO: Mayor Fischer and Members of the City Council <br /> <br />FROM: Ben Harrington, Community Development Director <br /> Heidi Heller, City Clerk/ HR Manager <br /> <br />DATE: October 9, 2024 <br /> <br />RE: Discuss Zoning & Registration Requirements for Cannabis Businesses <br /> <br /> <br />ACTIONS TO BE CONSIDERED <br />The City Council is asked to review and discuss potential local zoning and registration requirements <br />and provide direction to staff on how a draft ordinance should be crafted. Prior to City Council <br />adoption, any proposed zoning ordinance will be reviewed by the Planning Commission. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br />Staff is providing background and educational material to continue the discussion around cannabis <br />businesses locating within the City of Little Canada. Several items require direction from the City <br />Council for staff to continue working on ordinance language. All zoning code amendments must be <br />reviewed by the Planning Commission prior to City Council action with final zoning and city code <br />amendments completed by December 31, 2024 when the moratorium on cannabis businesses <br />expires. <br /> <br />Cannabis Legalization <br />A new law enacted at the end of the 2023 legislative session, and amended during the 2024 <br />legislative session, legalized adult-use cannabis in Minnesota and established a regulatory <br />framework for the cannabis industry. The new law legalizes the possession, use, manufacturing, and <br />sale of certain cannabis products within the state. The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), was <br />created and is charged with, among other things, enforcing an organized system of regulation for the <br />cannabis industry and the hemp consumer industry. It is anticipated that retail sales of cannabis <br />could begin as soon as January 2025. Before beginning sales in a local community, a cannabis <br />retailer is required to obtain a local retail registration. <br /> <br />The entire Minnesota State Statute Chapter 63 Regulation of Adult-Use Cannabis can be seen here: <br />https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2023/0/Session+Law/Chapter/63/ <br /> <br />Cannabis Business License Types <br />The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) has developed 16 types of business licenses; including <br />cannabis (10), medical cannabis (4) and lower-potency hemp edibles (2). Each of the types of <br />business licenses fulfills a unique role in the cannabis and hemp supply chain. The cannabis <br />business license types are outlined and defined; see Attachment A. <br /> <br />SUMMARY OF THE 2024 CANNABIS LAWS RELEVANT TO CITY GOVERNANCE: <br />