Robbinsdale Passes 1-Year Emergency Moratorium on Sale of THC Products
The Robbinsdale City Council passed an emergency interim moratorium on the sale of THC products for 12 months.
There’s currently no guidance or regulations on several factors surrounding the sale of products containing THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. Factors for regulation could include parameters like where the products can be sold, who can sell them, and who checks to make sure the retailers are not selling to minors.
“We have to have it organized and not like the Wild West or Hong Kong,” said Mayor Bill Blonigan, in a council meeting on July 19. “To me one of the most important things is getting these shops an appropriate distance from schools, so children are not incented to do this early.”
The state passed legislation allowing the sale of edible products and beverages containing THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, and the law went into effect on July 1.
Blonigan and council members expressed the belief that controlled use of marijuana will happen in Minnesota, but they also expressed concerns that the product be properly regulated.
“In something like this, we should make sure it’s regulated,” said Blonigan. “That’s not what the legislature did here, so now we are scrambling.”
Council member George Selman added that it’s important to establish regulations as guidance for retailers too.
“I don’t want retailers or business owners to be coming to town and making business decisions only to have to undo them in 3, 6, 12 months because they aren’t keeping with whatever is decided,” said Selman, who represents Ward 3.
The city’s charter allows the council to pass an emergency interim moratorium for up to 12 months so the city can study or establish regulations on new legislation. The temporary moratorium must be passed unanimously, and the one on Tuesday night in Robbinsdale was. You can read the exact wording in the council agenda packet.
