Ord #276 - 3rd Ser/Moratorium on the Sale of THC

Home Browse Search

3. The City Council,therefore, finds that there is a need to adopt a City-wide moratorium of the sale, testing, manufacturing, and distribution of THC Products within the City while City staff studies the issue. SECTION 3. MORATORIUM. 1. No individual, establishment, organization, or business may sell, test, manufacture, or distribute THC Products for twelve (12) months from the effective date of this ordinance. 2. The City shall not issue any license or permit related to THC Products for twelve (12) months from the effective date of this ordinance. No license or permit application, of any kind, by any individual, establishment, organization, or businesses involved in the proposed sale,testing, manufacturing, or distribution of THC Products within the City of Orono shall be accepted or considered for twelve(12)months from the effective date of this ordinance. 3. Planning or zoning applications related to THC Products or applications from individuals, establishments,organizations, or businesses involved in the proposed sale, testing, manufacturing, or distribution of THC Products within the City of Orono shall not be accepted or considered for twelve (12) months from the effective date of this ordinance. 4. This moratorium does not apply to the selling, testing, manufacturing, or distributing of THC Products related to the Medical Cannabis Program as administered by the Minnesota Department of Health, provided that such activity is done in accordance with the regulations and laws of Minnesota regarding Medical Cannabis. SECTION 4. STUDY. The City Council directs City staff to study the need for local regulation regarding the sale, testing, manufacturing, or distribution of THC Products within the City of Orono. Staff must also study the need for creating or amending zoning ordinances, licensing ordinances, or any other ordinances to protect the citizens of Orono from any potential negative impacts of THC Products. Upon completion of the study, the City Council, together with such commission as the City Council deems appropriate or, as may be required by law, will consider the advisability of adopting new ordinances or amending its current ordinances. SECTION 5. ENFORCEMENT. The City may enforce this Ordinance by mandamus, injunctive relief,or other appropriate civil remedy in any court of competent jurisdiction. The City Council hereby authorizes the City Administrator,in consultation with the City Attorney,to initiate any legal action deemed necessary to secure compliance with this Ordinance. A violation of this Ordinance is also subject to the City's general penalty in City Code § 1-8. SECTION 6. TERM. Unless earlier rescinded by the City Council, the moratorium established under this Ordinance shall remain in effect until twelve (12) months from its effective date, at which point, it will automatically expire. 222747v1