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Page 18 <br /> <br />Local Approval Process <br />Local governments play a critical role in the licensing process, <br />serving as a near-final approval check on cannabis businesses <br />nearing the awarding of a state license for operations. Once an <br />applicant has been vetted by OCM and is selected for <br />proceeding in the verification process, they are then required to <br />receive the local government’s certification of zoning <br />compliance and/or local retail registration before operations <br />may commence. <br />Local Certification of Zoning Compliance (342.13; 342.14) <br />Following OCM’s vetting process, local governments must certify that the applicant with <br />preliminary approval has achieved compliance with local zoning ordinances prior to the <br />licensee receiving final approval from OCM to commence operations. <br />During the application and licensing process for cannabis businesses, OCM will notify a <br />local government when an applicant intends to operate within their jurisdiction and <br />request a certification as to whether a proposed cannabis business complies with local <br />zoning ordinances, and if applicable, whether the proposed business complies with state <br />fire code and building code. <br />According to Minnesota’s cannabis law, a local unit of government has 30 days to respond <br />to this request for certification of compliance. If a local government does not respond to <br />OCM’s request for certification of compliance within the 30 days, the cannabis law allows <br />OCM to issue a license. OCM may not issue the final approval for a license if the local <br />government has indicated they are not in compliance. <br />OCM will work with local governments to access the licensing software system to <br />complete this zoning certification process.