Virginia holds public hearing on draft cannabis zoning and registration rules; county attorney outlines limits of local control

Kristen Swanson, an assistant St. Louis County attorney, told the Virginia City Council and members of the public at a Jan. 14 special hearing that local governments have narrow, statutorily defined authority to restrict where and when state-licensed cannabis businesses may operate.

Swanson, part of the county team who drafted St. Louis County’s ordinance, said the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) issues licenses at the state level; after the state issues a license the local unit of government must register the business if the location complies with local zoning. "The Office of Cannabis Management is essentially, for lack of a better term, the boss of all of us," Swanson said, describing the split of state and local duties.

Why it matters: Cities must adopt local ordinances now to set zoning, buffer distances, hours and limited civil penalties so local regulators can process state certification requests and register businesses when state licenses are issued. Draft rules at the state level are also subject to public comment through Feb. 12, 2025, and litigation has paused parts of the state licensing rollout, so local officials said they need to adopt workable local rules while state details continue to evolve.

Swanson outlined key provisions local governments may adopt under Minnesota law as amended in 2024: limiting certain retail endorsements to one active local retail registration per 12,500…