St. Cloud City Council Delays Vote for Recreational Cannabis Dispensary at Medical Cannabis Location

(KNSI) — The St. Cloud City Council voted Monday night to postpone a decision on allowing recreational cannabis sales at an existing medical dispensary, citing ongoing concerns about state licensing and zoning consistency.

The council was considering amending the Plaza 15 Planned Unit Development to allow recreational cannabis sales at 3800 3rd Street North, where Rise Dispensary currently operates. The property meets required separation distances from schools, daycares, and parks; however, questions emerged about the property’s zoning classification and potential conflicts with the city’s cannabis ordinance.

Council President Mike Conway told KNSI News the council needs clarification from the state’s Office of Cannabis Management before moving forward. Rise occupies approximately 9,250 square feet of a 15,250-square-foot building near the Highway 15 corridor and is not located in a C-5 zoning district, which the city established for recreational cannabis businesses. Conway said approving the amendment could create consistency issues. “We’ve had previous institutions ask us to change their zoning, and we said, no, we’re not changing zoning. We have had some discussions – first at the state level – because if they don’t get approved for recreational, how is that going to affect their medicinal licensing and medicinal sales?”

A similar request from Wild Weeds, also located outside a C-5 zone earlier this year, was denied.

City staff had recommended approval, noting the location’s proximity to a trunk highway within a regional shopping district made it appropriate for recreational cannabis sales.

Attorney Carol Moss, who represents Rise, declined to comment on the council’s decision. During the public hearing, she told the governing body that if the Planned Unit Development to allow recreational sales wasn’t approved, “that is a consideration for my client to take into account about the viability of the location.” She also stated they will always be mainly focused on medical marijuana, and told the council that the business pays around $30,000 in taxes to the city.

The council will reconsider the request at its next meeting on October 20th after seeking clarification from state cannabis regulators.

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