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Otter Tail County registers three cannabis/Hemp outlets, returns one application
Summary
The county registered two lower‑potency hemp edible sellers and one retail cannabis dispensary, returned a registration to a city that had not delegated authority, and recorded one recorded roll-call opposition.
Otter Tail County staff and commissioners handled multiple cannabis and lower‑potency hemp registration items during the Oct. 28 meeting, approving some applications, returning one to the originating city, and recording a single dissenting vote on one registration.
Land and Resource Director Chris LeClaire told the board the state opened registration for lower‑potency hemp edibles (gummies and seltzers) on Oct. 1. The Crossroads Convenience Center application was returned to the city of Clitherell because the city had not delegated registration authority to the county. The county registered Otter Tail Liquors (the city of Otter Tail had delegated authority on Nov. 21, 2024); that motion carried with one recorded opposition (Commissioner Buchholz).
The board also authorized licensure for Looney's Pub and Campground after Candor Township passed a resolution delegating registration authority. Separately, the board reviewed a retail cannabis registration for Mary Jane’s Dispensary LLC (Todd Larson) at 21564 State Highway 78; LeClaire said the site met the county’s 1,000‑foot school buffer and other local buffer standards; the registration was approved (recorded as four yeas and one nay).
What was said: LeClaire noted the county ordinance allows up to five retail registrations and that the county currently has three approved registrations; if Mary Jane’s moves forward, it would be the fourth. Commissioners emphasized that the Office of Cannabis Management (state) enforces many technical standards once a business is operational and that complaints or regulatory issues are forwarded to the state office.
Outcome and process notes: Returning an application to a city that has not delegated authority is an administrative step; approved registrations allow applicants to proceed with state-level compliance and OCM oversight. The county emphasized that townships and cities must pass enabling resolutions if they want the county to be the registration authority for lower‑potency operations.
