Osseo To Consider Municipal Cannabis Store
A lot is happening behind the scenes after the state’s marijuana law took effect last August. Now some cities are considering how they could use the law to their benefit.
The city of Osseo is among them. It’s studying a possible municipal store for cannabis sales. During a recent work session, Osseo City Council member Mark Schulz said he hopes Osseo could be among the first in the state to have a municipal store.
“We are way farther along than anybody else, which is really a good thing,” said Schulz.
Osseo has a committee studying cannabis sales. The city is considering opening a municipal store for several reasons. Chief among them, the city could control the safety aspect.
Another reason: cannabis sales could significantly reduce the tax burden on residents to pay for many city needs.
“It could be totally changing for our community from that perspective,” said Schulz. He added, “If that wasn’t a huge priority, I don’t know if I would be as excited and adamant about this moving ahead.”
Municipal liquor stores in other cities have been used to fund things like park maintenance or road work. Osseo does not have a municipal liquor store.
Schulz has been studying cannabis operations in Missouri, which approved legalization two years ago. He says Minnesota will likely be modeled after Missouri.
Under Minnesota law, cannabis can’t be brought in from another state to be sold. It has to be grown in Minnesota. The state’s new Office of Cannabis Management will oversee distribution of licenses, which will require applicants to have a well-detailed business plan and security plan.
A location considered for a municipal cannabis dispensary in Osseo includes putting one inside a possible new city hall/public safety building. The now-closed Osseo Press building that the city could purchase is another possibility. A location in the city’s central business district is a third option.
Besides deciding on a location, Osseo would also need to create an entirely new department for the operation.
“We want to try to make this as safe as possible,” said Schulz.
Also See: Osseo Approves $2 Million for Street Improvements
