By Tim Douglass

tdouglass@pctribune.com

Glenwood City Commissioners last week discussed investigating a possible ordinance that would regulate Cannabis (Marijuana) usage within the city, at least in outside public areas.  

Recreational marijuana became legal in Minnesota on Aug. 1, but a number of cities are going beyond state law to impose tighter restrictions on marijuana use where they can–in city parks and other pubic gathering places, it has been reported.

The Glenwood City Commission also discussed if there is a need to consider a moratorium to temporarily prohibit cannabis business within the city, including related activities from cultivating, transporting, wholesaling and sales.  The state law did establish an Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), which is charged with, among other things, enforcing an organized system of regulation for the cannabis industry and hemp consumer industry. Possession, use, and home growth under this new law became legal beginning Aug. 1, but legal sales at dispensaries or businesses are not expected to begin until January of 2025.  

The Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act already bans smoking or vaping marijuana in the same indoor public places where state law says people can’t smoke tobacco products, including bars, restaurants, offices, stores and health clinics. Local governments can enact tighter restrictions.

The new legal cannabis law also makes clear that smoking or vaping marijuana isn’t allowed in a vehicle, on public transportation, or anywhere where a minor would inhale the smoke or vapor.

The law also carves out spaces where indivduals clearly can smoke: Local governments are barred from making cannabis use illegal in private residences, including the yard or patio; in private property not accessible to the public; or — eventually — at specially-licensed cannabis festivals. 

Between those guardrails, local governments have leeway to regulate where a person can and cannot consume marijuana products, it was stated.  But, the new law empowers local governments to make cannabis use “in public” a petty misdemeanor offense.  Most cities already do this with alcohol  when it is banned from city parks or other public places.

Glenwood City Attorney told commissions they should first focus on the public consumption issue and then explore a moratorium once more information is available from the state and Pope County.  He said the moratorium would get into zoning and licensing of businesses selling cannabis.  

Nelson was asked if the city should just include cannabis in its current ordinances regulating the use of alcohol or tobacco  in public spaces.  He said he believed it should be a “separate ordinance,” adding that a lot of cities “have already tackled the issue” with stand-alone ordinances.

In other business, the commission:

•Introduced an ordinance amending the city code regulating portable storage/shipping containers within the city of Glenwood.  The new ordinance sets parameters for the use and temporary placement of portable shipping containers that are designed to store or ship personal property on a temporary basis.  Those portable storage units “may not be used as accessory buildings and may not impede vehicular access, traffic flow or circulation or create public safety hazards,” the amended ordinance states.  The storage units are required to be on private property only, but residents can apply for a permit to allow them to be placed temporarily within a pubic right-of-way, the amended ordinance states.  “Right-of-way permits are issued by and at the discretion of the City Administrator with the approval of the Glenwood City Commission.”  Once the full amended ordinance is published, the city can decide to adopt.

•Appointed a new police officer to the department on the recommendation of Glenwood Police Chief Dale Danter.  The new officer appointed was Sasha Schmidt.  Danter said he is still one full-time officer short for his department.  He also told commissioners that he doesn’t get the number of applicants he did a few years ago.  “We used to get 75 applicants for a position, now we get anywhere from zero to four,” he stated.