Douglas County sets cap of four retail cannabis registrations under state formula
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Summary
The board approved Resolution 2601 to cap adult-use cannabis retail registrations at four — the minimum number calculated at one registration per 12,500 residents — after staff explained the statutory requirement and noted the county receives only limited fee revenue, not retail tax share.
Douglas County commissioners approved Resolution 2601 to set the county’s adult-use cannabis retail registration cap at no more than four. Dave Rush explained the ordinance’s annual requirement to set a registration number and said the state formula — one registration per 12,500 residents — yields a cap of four retail registrations for Douglas County based on census figures.
Rush told the board the county’s authority is limited: "That changed too... I don't believe we get anything other than the fees which the fees are capped by the state at this time," and he noted the legislature had removed local share of retail tax revenue. Commissioners questioned whether the county could impose additional fees or taxes; Rush and others responded that state rules constrain local revenue authority but that registrations from other jurisdictions within the county can be counted toward the cap.
Commissioner Shane moved to approve Resolution 2601; Jeff seconded. The board took a roll-call vote; the resolution carried with one recorded 'reluctant yes.' The resolution establishes an administrative cap and does not itself create a local tax stream. Commissioners discussed using the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) for advocacy at the state capitol on related policy issues.