The St. Louis County Board approved an ordinance to regulate cannabis businesses in the county.
The ordinance addresses the use of cannabis in public, establishes zoning restrictions for cannabis businesses and hemp businesses and sets hours for operations of retail businesses.
According to a news release, commissioners noted they are taking a conservative approach to begin and will likely modify the ordinance in years to come as the cannabis industry develops.
At the Tuesday, Nov. 26, meeting, Board Chair Keith Nelson said he supported that approach.
"I heard the reference to the sheep, to the horse," Nelson said. "I’ll tell you this: If I open my barn door and the cows get out, they’re out. They’re out. So here we are with an ordinance in front of us that doesn’t open the door, it just says, here we are today, let’s find our way through this."
The ordinance passed 6-1, with Commissioner Ashley Grimm opposing.
Aspects of the ordinance include not allowing cannabis retail businesses to operate within 1,000 feet of a school or within 500 feet of a licensed day care, residential treatment facility or a public park regularly used by minors.
Cannabis use will be banned in public parks and government-owned, leased or controlled lands, as well as indoor places where smoking is banned.
The ordinance goes into effect Jan. 1 and covers the municipalities, townships and unorganized townships where the county is the planning and zoning authority. The ordinance, as well as other information and resources about cannabis, can be read on the county's website at stlouiscountymn.gov/cannabis.
Per state statute, the county is required to approve registrations for at least one licensed cannabis retail business per 12,500 residents. This means approval will be granted to three such retail businesses.
Anyone hoping to open a cannabis business in St. Louis County must first apply for a license through the state's Office of Cannabis Management.
In July, the County Board approved a temporary moratorium prohibiting the registration of cannabis businesses throughout the county to provide the county and local jurisdictions more time to plan and implement regulations consistent with state statute. The moratorium ends 11:59 p.m. Dec. 31.