Locals prepare for marijuana legislation

Recreational marijuana use will be limited in Rock County if a countywide ordinance is adopted later this month.
City leaders from Beaver Creek, Hills, Steen, Magnolia, Luverne, Kenneth, Jasper and Hardwick met with Rock County commissioners July 25 to discuss the state’s recent marijuana legislation and how it will be implemented locally.
County attorney Jeff Haubrich will draft a countywide ordinance, and each city council will adopt a resolution in support of that same ordinance at their upcoming August meeting.
Commissioners are scheduled to act on the proposed ordinance Aug. 22.
City and county leaders met in response to state legislation that makes adult use, possession and personal growing of marijuana in small amounts legal as of Aug. 1.
Local officials have lamented that the state has provided limited guidance about how to enact the new law.
County Administrator Kyle Oldre organized the hour-long public meeting with city leaders in the library basement where the meaning of “public use” and “public places” as it pertains to their communities was discussed.
“If you have a sidewalk restaurant or sidewalk seating at a restaurant, should you or would you as a city or county want to regulate that (marijuana use) and not allow it?” Oldre asked.
“At least for tonight’s conversation purposes — and part of the things the county is concerned with — we have law enforcement contracts with most of you in here and we want to make sure what we are enforcing is somewhat uniform.”
Use, possession and growing small amounts of marijuana is legal, but opening a retail cannabis business isn’t expected to be legal until after Jan. 1, 2025, when the state will likely begin issuing licenses.
 
Rock County’s unique location in the state draws local concern
Rock County borders the states of Iowa and South Dakota where recreational marijuana is not legal, and local leaders anticipate traffic coming into the county for that purpose.
“I worry about our people and our town,” said Hills City Council member Cory Metzger. “… people coming in making a mess, then leaving.”
Haubrich said a strict ordinance, such as the one adopted by Stearns County, would prohibit smoking marijuana in public areas.
“They basically said in Stearns County, other than in the privacy of your house, you’re not going to do it,” Haubrich said.
The Stearns County ordinance defines a public place as “a public park or trail, public street or sidewalk, any enclosed, indoor area used by the general public, including, but not limited to, theaters, restaurants, bars, food establishments, places licensed to sell intoxicating liquor, wine or malt beverages, retail businesses, gyms, commons areas in buildings, public shopping areas, auditoriums, arenas, or other places of public accommodations.”
A fine of $300 (a petty misdemeanor) can be issued in Stearns County to anyone smoking marijuana in public.
 
Interest high in opening marijuana retail business locally
City and county leaders say they’ve received phone calls about opening retail stores in the various communities.
State law says local governments can limit the number of cannabis retailers to one for every 12,500 residents.
The only restriction to sales is that buyers must be 21 or older.
While each city can have one or more recreational marijuana retail businesses, council members at the July 25 joint meeting supported allowing one license for the entire county.
The state is not issuing licenses until the Office of Cannabis Management is established.
The state is responsible for issuing licenses, but local communities are notified of applications and whether locations meet setback requirements from schools, day cares, churches or other public places.
County officials expect that interest for the retail licenses will be high.
“Keep in mind, we’ve already had inquiries for legal marijuana sales from out of state,” said Commissioner Greg Burger. “They are looking at Rock County as a gold mine.”