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Hibbing council delays ordinance that would regulate public cannabis use and cap retail licenses
Summary
City Attorney presented a draft cannabis ordinance modeled on Saint Louis County that would prohibit public use on sidewalks and appeared to cap retail licenses; councilors questioned the retail cap and withdrew the motion to approve pending more research.
City Attorney Borland presented a proposed municipal ordinance regulating cannabis, adapted from Saint Louis County language, and told the council it would be posted for consideration in advance of potential early-2025 implementation.
On the scope of public use, Borland relayed the county attorney's view that "the use of public, cannabis on a public sidewalk would be prohibited," clarifying that the draft would address sidewalk use as well as other public spaces. Several councilors focused on a separate provision that would limit the number of retail locations in Hibbing. One councilor said the draft language appeared to cap retail licenses at one and urged the council to avoid an early cap: "Competition is always a good thing... I would like to see us have, not limited to just 1."
After questions about whether the city could run its own retail locations, how state statute interacts with municipal limits, and whether the ordinance should be reposted for additional input, a councilor withdrew the motion to approve the ordinance and the council took no final action. City Attorney Borland said staff could repost an amended draft for future consideration and provide additional legal research on the retail-license question.
No ordinance was adopted on Dec. 18; councilors asked for more discussion and possible reposting of ordinance language before final approval.
