Item Description:
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Adoption of Hennepin County Cannabis and Lower-Potency Hemp Edibles Retailers Ordinance
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners adopts the Hennepin County Cannabis and Lower-Potency Hemp Edibles Retailers Ordinance; and that the Clerk of the Board be directed to publish the revised ordinance pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 375.51, subdivision 3.
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Background:
On August 1, 2023, Minnesota became the 23rd state to legalize the use of cannabis for adults 21 and older. See Minn. Stat. Ch. 342. The law establishes a regulatory framework for the state’s new cannabis industry as well as a new state office - the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). OCM is responsible for regulating the cannabis market, which includes previously legalized lower-potency hemp edibles (LPHEs), and the state’s Medical Cannabis Program. The OCM is the responsible for licensure of these businesses. Once licensed, local units of government are responsible for retail registration, which involves initial and ongoing compliance checks. Cities may choose to delegate registration authority to the county, in which case the county is responsible for that city’s retailer registration and compliance.
In addition, local units of government may adopt reasonable restrictions on the time, place, and manner of business operations and impose certain requirements as part of the registration process.
The proposed Hennepin County Cannabis and Lower-Potency Hemp Edibles Retailers Ordinance outlines Hennepin County’s retailer registration and compliance program and adopts reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions on business operations.
Current Request: The current request seeks Board approval of the proposed Hennepin County Cannabis and Lower-Potency Hemp Edibles Retailers Ordinance.
Impact/Outcomes: Fulfill the requirement outlined in Minn. Stat. Ch. 342 for Hennepin County to create and enforce the Hennepin County Cannabis and Lower-Potency Hemp Edibles Retailers Ordinance to outline Hennepin County’s retailer registration and compliance program and adopts reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions on business operations. The proposed ordinance takes a balanced approach to protect residents’ health, safety, and welfare, while also recognizing that cannabis prohibition and criminalization has disproportionately affected Black/African American, American Indian, Latinx and other racially and ethnically diverse communities.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval