Sartell Passes Area’s Most Restrictive THC Ordinance

(KNSI) – Sartell charts a different course on THC edibles.

The city council Monday passed unanimously an ordinance that will restrict the sale of cannabinoid products to a single kind of store. Police Chief Jim Hughes says only tobacco retailers who currently offer CBD will be eligible.

“I know Waite Park and the City of St Cloud had adopted pretty similar ordinances. We had ours reviewed by our attorney’s office. Made some suggestions on behalf of the council request to modify that a little bit trying to keep the kids safe, reduce the areas of sales.”

The council had until the last week of December to pass something before a THC moratorium ended. Members said they expect several amendments to the ordinance in the future.

One possibility that generated the most discussion was losing businesses to neighboring cities because of the restrictive rule, such as a potential brewery opting out of Sartell if it can’t sell a THC infused drink.

Also approved were 1,000-foot buffer zones around “youth-oriented facilities,” defined as any business or group that has 25 percent of its customers or patrons that are under 18 years old. Hughes says that includes schools, daycares, and driving instructors, just to name some examples. He says the zones already apply to tobacco shops, along with the 21-and-up age limit, which means most are eligible for THC sales if they’re interested.

“There is one [tobacco shop] that was grandfathered in on that [buffer zone] rule but this is a new ordinance of cannabinoids, so they would not be allowed to sell cannabinoid product at that current location.”

No one spoke on the issue during a public hearing before the vote. Also tucked into the Sartell ordinance is a clause that criminalizes someone under the age of 21 who is in possession of THC products. Hughes says that is not something included in the state law.

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