City of Olivia voices concerns the county is losing economic opportunities, but commissioners said they favor cautious start.
OLIVIA — The Renville County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance to regulate cannabis sales in the county, despite concerns raised by the city of Olivia that it is too restrictive.
Stating that they wanted to move forward on cannabis sales with caution, the commissioners approved an ordinance that restricts the number of allowed retail establishments in the county to two. The ordinance does not allow temporary cannabis events.
The vote on May 13 followed a public hearing on the ordinance, which was originally drafted by the county’s Public Health Department.
Minnesota law requires counties to authorize at least one permanent retail outlet per 12,500 population. By allowing two, the county ordinance is aimed at meeting the minimum requirement.
The restriction to two retail outlets applies only to high-potency cannabis. The ordinance does not regulate the sale of low-potency THC beverages or edibles at convenience and other stores in the county.
Instead of doing the minimum as required by the law, Olivia Mayor Jon Hawkinson urged the commissioners “to deploy an opportunity mindset to embrace a new industry and perhaps fill some of these vacant store fronts we can see all across our county.”
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