On Aug. 1, recreational, adult use of cannabis became legal in the Minnesota. Most counties and cities are evaluating the prospect of an ordinance related to the sale of cannabis product starting Jan. 1, 2025.

Public Health Director Amy Evans explained to the Dodge County Commissioners at their meeting Aug. 8th, that the commissioners cannot prohibit the sale of cannabis in the county when Jan. 1, 2025, rolls around; the date that licensing for dispensaries in the state will go into effect. (Dispensaries on Native American land may sell the products now.)

Counties and cities can adopt ordinances regulating the use of cannabis in public spaces; for example, the MN Clean Indoor Air Act regulates the use of tobacco in public indoor areas and now includes the use of cannabis in these same public indoor areas. They can also regulate the licensing of dispensaries to a certain extent such as location in relation to schools, etc.

The state is forming an Office of Cannabis Management, but that regulating body is still in the planning stages and as such, cannot help governing bodies like counties and cities write ordinances for the use and sale of cannabis in their neighborhoods in Minnesota.

To give the county time to write an ordinance specific to cannabis and the opportunity to study its relationship to the county’s current comprehensive plan, the commissioners agreed to hold a public hearing on September 12th at 10:00 a.m.to hear comments on approving an interim ordinance which would be effective until Jan 1, 2025.