DL Online
DETROIT LAKES — If you were dreaming of a cannabis retail shop on every Detroit Lakes street corner, forget about it.
In a move to limit the number of shops that can sell recreational cannabis in city limits, the Detroit Lakes City Council doubled the required distance between shops — from 2,500 feet to 5,000 feet — in its new cannabis ordinance , which was approved Tuesday, Dec. 10. There’s 5,280 feet in a mile, so the shops could be placed about a mile apart.
That’s 10 times as restrictive as the 500 lineal feet between shops agreed on by the council at an October work session.
Under the city’s ordinance, retail shops in Detroit Lakes will have to be located along the U.S. Highway 10 corridor, which appears to cover about 6.5 miles in city limits, according to Google Maps. But there are other restrictions to consider: Per state statute, a cannabis retailer must be 1,000 feet or more away from any school, and 500 feet or more away from any day care, park, playground or residential treatment facility.
There was some sparring among council members about the change prior to the vote.
“It will definitely reduce the number of businesses,” said Alderman Mike Stearns. “But there should still be the opportunity for at least three retail businesses in the city.”
Alderman Jaimie Deraney, a doctor at Sanford Health, said fewer cannabis shops will mean fewer young people exposed to marijuana products. “Less visualization is a good thing,” he said, adding that his impression is that most people in Detroit Lakes want fewer cannabis shops.
Alderman Ron Zeman said he heard concerns from residents about there being possibly nine or 10 cannabis shops in Detroit Lakes. Having fewer might be better for the community overall, he said.
“Five thousand feet seems like over-regulation,” said Aldermen Matt Boeke. “We had discussed 2,500 feet (between shops). Are we going to limit vaping (sales) at gas stations, too?”
Alderman Dan Josephson agreed. “If people want to come to our community and spend money on something that is legal in Minnesota,” that would be good for the community, he said.
Alderman Wendy Spry said that a long career in corrections has taught her that alcohol abuse tends to cause way more damage than marijuana use. “We need to recognize that fact and not demonize that (legal cannabis) business,” she said.
But with his medical credentials, Deraney carried the day. “The intent is not to demonize,” he said. “The intent is to use information from medical evidence about the negative effects of marijuana use — especially on adolescents.”
In the end, the council voted unanimously to give final approval to the draft ordinance, with the only change being the 5,000 lineal feet distance between retail shops.
The city needed to have an ordinance in place since the state will begin issuing licenses sometime next year.
