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2 <br />for cannabis businesses, performance standards for cannabis businesses, and processes related <br />to temporary cannabis events. An updated guide was released on November 25, 2024. <br /> <br />At its meeting of November 18, 2024, the City Council gave some high -level direction to staff <br />on a number of items to be included within the draft ordinance. After some discussion, the City <br />Council recommended that staff proceed to draft an ordinance with the zoning districts <br />proposed, no buffers in place for cannabis businesses, and for temporary cannabis events to be <br />included in the special event permitting process. <br /> <br />At its meeting of November 19, 2024, the EDA heard a presentation from staff asking for <br />similar comments on the direction of the cannabis ordinance. The EDA had some debate about <br />whether to require buffers to limit the ability to advertise to minors, but they agreed that this <br />concern could be addressed through regulating signage specifically for cannabis business. <br />Generally, the EDA was comfortable with staff’s recommendation for zoning districts , buffers, <br />and the inclusion of cannabis events within the special event permitting process. <br /> <br />At its meeting of December 2, 2024, the Ordinance Review Committee (ORC) discussed the <br />direction of the cannabis ordinance and some questions that were raised during the previous <br />City Council and EDA meetings. In general, the ORC recommended that staff proceed with the <br />proposed zoning districts, not requiring any buffers, and including cannabis events under <br />special event permits in the draft cannabis ordinance. <br /> <br /> <br />3. SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE: <br /> <br />A. Cannabis Ordinance <br /> <br />State statute allows local governments to adopt reasonable restri ctions on the time, <br />place, and manner in which cannabis businesses can operate. While drafting an <br />ordinance, staff considered whether to recommend buffer requirements for cannabis <br />businesses. Based on findings related to existing zoning and separation of <br />noncompatible uses, staff is recommending buffers not be included in the ordinance. <br />Staff has drafted proposed zoning districts where certain cannabis business types would <br />be allowed. Generally, staff found that cannabis retailers, and other business types that <br />include retail sales, were land uses comparable to those allowed in commercial zoning <br />districts. Meanwhile, all other cannabis business types were found to be more <br />compatible with land uses allowed in industrial zoning districts. Additionally, the cit y is <br />required by state statute to allow temporary cannabis events in some form, and can <br />place restrictions on their operation. Staff is recommending adding standards for <br />cannabis events into the existing special event permit process. <br /> <br />B. Types of Cannabis Businesses <br /> <br />The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) is setting up to issue licenses to <br />13 cannabis business types: <br />• Cannabis cultivators <br />• Cannabis manufacturers <br />• Cannabis retailers