Oakdale’s City Council on Nov. 26 adopted a set of ordinances and resolutions to establish local rules for cannabis and hemp businesses, temporary cannabis events and appropriate zoning districts.

City administrator Chris told council the package responds to a state statute deadline and clarifies what the city will regulate locally. “We are not going to be licensing. So we are establishing a registration process,” Chris said on the record. The ordinances define siting buffers from schools and daycares, set rules for temporary special events involving cannabis on public property, outline registration procedures and add relevant definitions to city code.

Council adopted Ordinance 9‑38 (establishing Article 18: cannabis and hemp business regulations), authorized publication of the ordinance by title and summary via Resolution 2024‑103, adopted Ordinance 9‑39 (amending special events code to regulate temporary cannabis events) and authorized publication via Resolution 2024‑104, and adopted Ordinance 9‑40 (amending zoning chapters to identify appropriate zoning districts for cannabis businesses) and authorized publication via Resolution 2024‑105. All of the items were approved by voice vote in sequence.

Mayor Kevin Zabel thanked staff and council for the lengthy work, described the topic as a “new frontier for local government” and said the city will continue to adjust ordinance language as state licensing and lottery systems evolve. Staff noted the city’s actions set the local regulatory framework but do not supplant state licensing, which remains the responsibility of the state agency and any state processes required for issuance.

The ordinances require future implementing steps such as establishing registration forms, setting up administrative procedures for registrations and reviewing applications against the siting buffers and zoning rules adopted by council.