Laserfiche WebLink
<br />Councilmember Woestehoff stated that one of his issues with this is that nothing was done when <br />low-dose or edibles came out and now they are putting out a moratorium on a new avenue. He <br />shared that he will support this as Staff needs time to review. <br /> <br />Councilmember Musgrove asked if the State said that there could be a moratorium on this. <br /> <br />City Attorney Knaak stated that cities are putting moratoriums in place and the authorization of <br />this comes under the general authority. He added that this is the method that cities are using to get <br />around it and the new legislation recognizes that. <br /> <br />Councilmember Musgrove shared her appreciation for Staff for working on this. <br /> <br />Motion by Councilmember Musgrove, seconded by Councilmember Specht, to waive the City <br />Charter requirement that the ordinance be read aloud and adopt Ordinance #23-09 Interim <br />Ordinance prohibiting the establishment of new uses and/or expansion of existing uses related to <br />sales, testing, manufacturing, and distribution of real THC and chemically related products. <br /> <br />Further discussion: <br /> <br />Councilmember Riley clarified that this is just a pause up to one year so that the State and the City <br />can get caught up on making sure that this is done right. <br /> <br />Councilmember Howell asked why hemp is being regulated. <br /> <br />City Administrator Hagen shared that the notion behind this is to look at where these sales will <br />occur and look at these stores similar to liquor stores. <br /> <br />City Attorney Knaak stated that nothing like this has been seen since the prohibition was lifted, so <br />the only guidance that they have is what happened after the prohibition was listed. He stated that <br />it is more to regulate the THC that is in the hemp but it is the responsibility of the Council to make <br />regulations for the health and safety of the citizens. <br /> <br />Councilmember Woestehoff commented that bills that were passed had caps on them and a city <br />the size of Ramsey could only have two stores. He shared his concern with the moratorium that <br />there would be a greater limit on what he would consider to be the free market as there are two <br />locations that are selling edibles right now and they would be the only ones allowed to sell these <br />products for the next year. He stated that by enabling this moratorium they are creating a potential <br />strategic advantage for the two existing stores in the City. <br /> <br />Councilmember Specht asked if Councilmember Howell wanted hemp to be excluded from this. <br /> <br />Councilmember Howell stated that she does not know enough about this to answer that. <br /> <br />Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Kuzma, Councilmembers Musgrove, Specht, and Riley. <br />Voting No: Woestehoff. Abstain: Councilmember Howell. Absent: Councilmember Olson. <br />City Council / May 23, 2023 <br />Page 6 of 9 <br /> <br /> <br />