Wabasha County - Notice of Intent - Cannabis Interim Ordinance

Notice of Intent
to Enact an Emergency Interim Ordinance Prohibiting the Establishment of New Uses or the Expansion of Existing Uses
related to Sales, Testing, Manufacturing and Distribution of Cannabis Products
Pursuant to MN Statute §357.51 subd. 2, notice of intention to enact an Emergency Interim Ordinance under the Wabasha County Zoning Ordinance is hereby given. The Wabasha County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing for input on the following date: Monday, July 31, 2023, at 8:00 a.m. at the Old Courthouse Annex, 625 Jefferson Avenue, Wabasha, MN 55981.
A brief summary of the Interim Ordinance is as follows:
The County of Wabasha recognizes significant public interest in changes to state law scheduled to take effect on August 1, 2023, that will make it legal to use, possess, and sell cannabis and other products containing THC. Minnesota Statute § 394.34 provides that if a county is conducting, or in good faith intends to conduct studies within a reasonable time for the purpose of considering adopting an official control or an amendment, extension, or addition to an official control, the board, in order to protect the public health, safety, and general welfare, may adopt as an emergency measure, a temporary interim zoning ordinance. The purpose of the interim ordinance is to provide the County with the opportunity to study its comprehensive plan and official controls so that it can, in a meaningful way, consider potential amendments to its ordinances. An interim ordinance may regulate, restrict, or prohibit any use within the County for a period not to exceed one year from the effective date of the interim ordinance. Many jurisdictions have adopted interim ordinances to study whether regulations are appropriate for the purpose of protecting the public health, safety, and welfare of their citizens. The County agrees that a temporary moratorium is necessary to protect the health and safety of county residents. Due to the effective date of the new legislation, the lack of adequate time to evaluate the situation and enact appropriate controls, and the potential negative impacts on the health, safety, and welfare of its residents, the County Board determines that it is in the best interests of the County to impose a temporary moratorium on the sale of Cannabis Products.
The County Board hereby authorizes and directs County staff to conduct a study of the issues relating to the sale, manufacture, and distribution of Cannabis Products within the County. Staff shall make a recommendation to the County Board about whether the County should amend its zoning, business-licensing, or other ordinance provisions related to these types of uses to better protect county residents. No business, person or entity may establish a use or expand an existing use relating to the sale or distribution of Cannabis Products. This prohibition includes and involves the sale, testing, manufacturing, or distribution of Cannabis Products for a period of up to twelve (12) months from the effective date of this Ordinance or until the Board repeals this Ordinance, whichever occurs first.
Completed copies of the referenced proposed Interim Ordinance may be viewed during regular business hours at the Old Courthouse Annex, 625 Jefferson Avenue, Wabasha, MN 55981, or on the Wabasha County Website: www.co.wabasha.mn.us. To submit written comments, ask questions, or to request more information please contact Wabasha County Administrator, Michael Plante, at (651) 565-3051.

Published in the Lake City Graphic
on July 20, 2023