County hosts meeting to address marijuana legalization

County Board members and city leaders from around the county will meet Tuesday, July 25, to discuss the state’s legalization of recreational marijuana.
The 7 p.m. meeting will be in the basement of the library in Luverne.
County attorney Jeff Haubrich will lead a discussion about a possible moratorium on sales and use in the county.
The moratorium would be in effect until the state’s newly created Office of Cannabis Management provides more guidance in the selling, processing and growing of marijuana and cannabis-derived products.
County Administrator Kyle Oldre said he’d like the city leaders in Beaver Creek, Hills, Steen, Magnolia, Luverne, Kenneth and Hardwick to agree on several issues involving the legal sale and use of marijuana in the county.
“We’d like to draft one ordinance like we have for tobacco sales and use,” Oldre said.
Under the new state law, residents are limited to where the consumption of cannabis products can take place, primarily at a private residence or yard.
City and county leaders will discuss the definition of public and private locations.
Discussion will also address the licensure to sell products locally.
Legislation requires the county to allow for at least one cannabis retailer for every 12,500 residents.
If a county meets the resident threshold, individual cities within the county will not be required to allow a cannabis business and/or limit the number of additional retailers within the city limits.
On Aug. 1 it is legal for Minnesotans age 21 and older to possess and use recreational marijuana.
Beginning in 2025, sales of recreational marijuana across the state, including Rock County, will become legal.