The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved Washington County Cannabis Ordinance #219 Dec. 17.
State law requires that cannabis and hemp retailers obtain a registration from the city or town as part of the licensing process. This law also allows cities and towns to delegate registration duties to the county. Five communities within Washington County have delegated registration duties to the county: Afton, Landfall, Marine on St. Croix, May Township, and West Lakeland Township. Therefore, the county was required to draft an ordinance to govern the registration of cannabis and hemp retailers.
Cannabis Ordinance #219 is intended to ensure responsible cannabis retailing, allowing legal sale and access without promoting increases in use, and to discourage violations of cannabis-related laws, especially those that prohibit or discourage the marketing, sale, or distribution of cannabis and cannabis products to youth under 21 years of age.
State law authorizes the county to adopt this ordinance, including reasonable standards on the manner of sale of cannabis and hemp products.
Washington County held a public hearing on the adoption of Washington County Cannabis Ordinance #219 Dec. 3. No members of the public spoke during the public hearing.