Residents urge tighter local rules for cannabis operations during public forum

Two residents used the public forum at the start of the Pine County Board meeting to press for stronger protections from cannabis business impacts in residential and rural areas.

Denise Weiss of Royalton Township said she has “spoken so many times about cannabis” and urged rules to protect neighbors if cannabis businesses locate nearby. Weiss said lights from a cannabis facility could be seen “4 or 5 miles away” and that alarms sounded “at least a quarter to a half mile away” the prior night, describing the alarms as similar to “a bunch of fire trucks or police cars.” She said those impacts go beyond a typical home alarm and argued cannabis operations belong in industrial or commercially zoned areas rather than near residences. “To not have the rules protect residents if it is gonna be in those types of areas is doubly disappointing,” Weiss said.

Les Arvis, who identified himself from Relson Township, framed his remarks in religious terms and said the county’s ordinance allows opportunity for businesses the state approves. “I helped write this ordinance that the county has with us through the state of Minnesota,” Arvis said, adding that in his experience a long-standing facility — Martin’s Greenhouse — operated for decades “with never a complaint” until recently. He urged respect for the county’s ordinance while acknowledging not everyone will be satisfied by every permit or business.

The comments were made during the public forum portion of the meeting and were not followed by formal board action at that time. Board members did not take immediate action in response to the comments during the meeting record; any regulatory changes would require a separate agenda item and formal consideration.