Golden Valley, Crystal Prepare for Legalized Marijuana Sales
The cities of Golden Valley and Crystal are preparing for eventual legalized marijuana sales. Both cities approved regulations this week that are allowed under state law.
You’ll recall the Minnesota Legislature legalized marijuana for adult use in 2023. Lawmakers then made updates to the law at the end of the 2024 session.
What Cities Can Control
On Tuesday, both the Golden Valley and Crystal city councils approved zoning code changes that dictate where marijuana retail business can be located. In Golden Valley, such businesses would have to be at least 500 feet from youth-oriented facilities, which include schools and playgrounds.
Both city councils also gave initial approval to a registration ordinance. While the state and the new Office of Cannabis Management will control the licensing of marijuana businesses, the law lets cities conduct compliance checks.
Cities can also cap the number of marijuana businesses based on population size under the state law, though they must allow at least one for every 12,500 residents.
Crystal will allow two cannabis retail businesses based on its population and zoning regulations.
One Big Unknown
At Tuesday’s Golden Valley City Council meeting, city attorney Maria Cisneros stressed how there remains one big unknown with marijuana legalization: when products for recreational use will actually start being sold.
Cisneros pointed out how legal issues are delaying the rollout and holding up the state licensing process.
“We don’t when this will actually start operating. There’s some lawsuits happening already at the state. That’s all out of our control and sort of up in the air how long that will take,” said Cisneros.
Sales of marijuana products for adult use were supposed to begin in early 2025.
Law Creates Internal Struggle
For some city council members, voting on regulations is a difficult topic to address.
Golden Valley City Council Member Denise La Mere-Anderson noted trying circumstances in her family with substance use disorder.
“For me personally, this is a very difficult issue to vote on because I personally am not supportive of the legalization of things that cause addiction and substance use disorder,” said La Mere-Anderson. “I think it is incredibly risky to have in our community.”
