Golden Valley Considers Impact of Marijuana Legalization

Golden Valley is taking a look at what a proposed marijuana legalization bill could mean for the city.

At the city’s most recent planning commission meeting, members discussed what local controls the city could have.

Under the proposed legislation, HF 100, no city could prohibit cannabis businesses. However cities could set up reasonable restrictions on where they can be located, such as requiring a minimum distance from schools and parks.

“You can make common sense guesses that you probably don’t want food trucks selling edibles,” said Mike Ruby, a Golden Valley Planning Commission member. “We know we don’t want usage in the parks, we don’t want sales in the parks. We don’t want usage on city spaces. As a parent, I definitely don’t want that.”

Planning commissioner Lauren Pockl also suggested at looking at how the first-ring suburbs of Denver handled the issue. Colorado voters approved legalizing recreational marijuana in 2012.

“One of the primary considerations we should have is ensuring we are consistent with regulations that might be passed,” said Pockl.

Unlike legislation for hemp-derived THC edible sales that took effect last year, licensing responsibilities for recreational cannabis businesses would shift to the state.

The Minnesota bill would allow local governments to approve an interim ordinance prohibiting cannabis businesses until 2025, but cities would need to have an ongoing study on the issue.

So far, it has passed more than 20 House and Senate committees, but still must clear a few more before possible floor votes. If approved, Minnesota would become the 22nd state to legalize recreational marijuana.

Golden Valley