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Moorhead council approves ordinance to register cannabis and low‑potency hemp retailers, sets hours and fines
Summary
The Moorhead City Council approved Ordinance 2025-55 requiring registration of adult-use cannabis and lower‑potency hemp businesses, setting operating hours (10 a.m.–10 p.m.) and establishing fines up to $2,000 per occurrence; the city says state licensing and investigations remain under the Office of Cannabis Management.
Moorhead — The Moorhead City Council on April 14 approved Ordinance 2025-55 to require businesses that sell adult‑use cannabis products or lower‑potency hemp products to register with the city, set local operating hours of 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and adopt fines and sanctions for violations.
The ordinance, presented by Robin Houston, Moorhead city planner and zoning administrator, adds a municipal registration requirement and penalties to align local rules with the 2023 state legislation on recreational cannabis. “It is very timely to get this ordinance in place so that city staff can be ready and get trained on the process,” Houston said during the council meeting.
The nut graf: The measure creates a local registration and compliance framework meant to allow Moorhead staff to monitor business compliance with city building and safety codes and to perform underage‑sale checks, while recognizing that state licensing and product enforcement remain the responsibility of the Office of Cannabis Management.
Under the ordinance, registration will apply to any business selling cannabis products or lower‑potency hemp (also called cannabinoids). The ordinance includes a proposed registration fee structure, annual renewal inspections to confirm building and fire code compliance, and a tiered sanction process: the city’s proposed maximum fine per occurrence mirrors the state cap discussed in the meeting at $2,000. “In the ordinance, we’re proposing dollars 2,000 per occurrence, and that is the max you can charge per occurrence per state statute,” Houston said.
Council discussion focused on enforcement limits and how local and state roles interact. Council Member Nicole Matson asked whether establishments with later liquor hours would have to stop selling cannabis products at 10 p.m.; Houston replied, “They technically need to stop selling the cannabis items at 10PM.” Council Member Deb White raised concerns about past retailers investigated by the state for health violations and asked whether the city could increase penalties or revoke registrations in such cases; Houston said the city could not revoke a registration for state‑level product violations but would notify and file complaints with the Office of Cannabis Management for state enforcement.
The council voted to approve 14A on a voice vote after a motion by Council Member Niesenmeyer and a second by Council Member Borgen. Mayor Shelly Carlson called for ayes and declared the motion carried.
Ending: City staff said the Office of Cannabis Management recently published licensing rules in the state register on April 2, and Houston told the council the state “may start issuing licenses by the end of the month,” beginning with preapproved applicants from the social equity process. City registration and inspection procedures will be applied once the state licensing schedule becomes clearer.
