02/12/2025 PZ Combined Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

2 Chapter 342 of Minnesota law was established by the State Legislature in 2023 and amended in 2024 providing for the cultivation, manufacture and sale of adult use cannabis. The State is currently completing the rulemaking process which will likely be completed after the first of the year (2025). The law created the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) to oversee the implementation and regulation of the adult-use cannabis market, the medical cannabis market, and the consumer hemp industry. The OCM will be responsible for licensing Cannabis Businesses. There are 13 different types of business licenses. These include: Microbusiness Mezzobusiness Cultivator Manufacturer Retailer Wholesaler Transporter Testing Facility Event Organizer Delivery Service Medical Cannabis Combo Bus. Lower-Potency Hemp Manuf. Lower-Potency Hemp Retailer Definitions for each business type are included in the draft ordinance. The amendment to Chapter 617 provides for registration requirements for Cannabis Business including, number of retail licenses allowed, buffer requirements from certain uses, and performance standards. The City Council will be considering these amendments in January. The amendment to Chapter 1007 relates to the City role as the zoning authority. Cannabis businesses are viewed as any other type of legal business, subject to the City’s general zoning regulations. A zoning ordinance text amendment has been drafted to include the various license types into appropriate zoning districts. The Planning and Zoning Board opened the public hearing on January 8, 2025 and it was continued to the February 12, 2025 meeting. ANALYSIS For purposes of the Zoning requirements the primary focus will be on the appropriate districts for each use. It is also necessary to determine whether the use is a permitted or conditional use based on similar uses already established in the districts. The licensed uses fall within the following categories: Cultivation. Cannabis business licensed or endorsed for cultivation would be permitted as an agricultural use and would be permitted indoor and outdoor in the R – Rural district. Indoor cultivation would also be considered in Industrial districts.