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Moorhead council approves cannabis retail business registration ordinance with hours clarified for low‑potency hemp sales
Summary
Council adopted a city ordinance requiring registration of cannabis retail businesses and set operating-hour clarifications for low‑potency hemp edibles; on-premise sales of cannabis where alcohol is served remain prohibited.
The Moorhead City Council voted April 28 to adopt a cannabis retail business registration ordinance that implements state requirements for businesses selling cannabis and certain low‑potency hemp products.
City Planner Robin Houston presented the ordinance at second reading and described a staff amendment clarifying hours of operation for retailers selling low‑potency hemp edibles. Houston said the adjustment was needed because “those 10AM to 10PM hours of operation, those don't work and they're not really enforceable for those bars that are selling those edible drinks already.” The revised hours for low‑potency hemp edible retail sales were set to align with liquor-licensed operations: 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Sunday, with exceptions for bars that lack a 2 a.m. liquor license.
Houston also told council that state statute prohibits on‑premise sales of full‑potency cannabis drinks where alcohol is sold. “So we won't ever have a bar in Moorhead that sells both cannabis and alcohol,” she said.
Councilmember Heather Niesemeyer moved to approve the ordinance and Councilmember Madsen seconded. The motion carried on a voice vote with no roll-call tally recorded in the minutes.
Ending: The ordinance replaces an earlier 2022 city ordinance addressing low‑potency hemp products and establishes registration fees and fines for violations; staff said the changes are intended to align city rules with 2023 state cannabis law requirements and to make enforcement practicable.
