The Freeborn County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved an interim moratorium on new cannabis businesses within the county until Jan. 1.
The vote came as the board considers zoning and operation of cannabis businesses in the county after the Minnesota Legislature legalized recreational use of marijuana and allowed new types of cannabis businesses to open in 2025.
Freeborn County Administrator Ryan Rasmusson said the county's current land use ordinance does not include language regarding the cannabis industry, and they want to avoid making arbitrary decisions regarding the placement of cannabis-related businesses in the county. State statute allows local governments to put in place interim ordinances to give them time to study or consider adoption of reasonable restrictions on the time, place and manner of cannabis businesses.
Rasmusson stated the state Office of Cannabis Management recently developed a guide for local governments regarding licensing and development of an ordinance. The county plans to review this in developing its ordinance, and he hoped the county would be done before the Jan. 1 date.
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