City, school board officials discuss THC regulations

(ABC 6 News) – It’s been a little over a month since THC products became legal to buy and sell in Minnesota and cities have been left grappling with how to regulate the sale to keep the products away from kids.

Now, some cities are partnering with their area school boards to come up with a plan.

Tuesday evening, the city of Albert Lea presented its plan to regulate these products to the Albert Lea Area schools school board.

During the meeting, the city said it plans to regulate THC products just like the state regulates the sale of tobacco products. Which means an individual must be 21 to purchase the product and show legal ID, and those selling it have to take safety measures to ensure you’re not marketing to underage kids and keep the products locked or away from where people can get to it.

Albert Lea’s City manager Ian Rigg said Tuesday evening’s presentation was about getting the public’s feedback.

“With something as big as this, and this big of a change that getting their input is very vital. The same is getting input from the public and retailers and everyone else is vital to us crafting a well-drafted ordinance that can be enforced and effective,” Albert Lea City manager Ian Rigg said.

These regulations would directly affect business owner Jerry Collins who sells CBD and THC products. He also has kids in the school district.

“We are happy that the city is soliciting feedback from parties like us here at Big Dream Organics and from other community members that have a vested interest,” Collins said.

The city said its biggest concern is keeping these new products away from kids and out-of-area schools.

“Their brains are still developing at that age, and so it is very important to keep or reduce the amount that they are in contact with,” Rigg said.

Collins says his store is dedicated to safe use and education of the products.

“We only sell to people that are 21 or older, we do have child-resistant packaging and we don’t have packaging that is made to appear that it’s being marketed towards people under the age. What is said on the label is actually what’s in them. We want good, clean, safe products for the community.” Collins said.

The city said the feedback from Tuesday’s meeting will be taken into consideration.

Albert Lea officials hope to have an official ordinance in place by the end of October.