Albert Lea City Council hears cannabinoid product ordinance

(ABC 6 News) – Monday, the Albert Lea city council heard the first reading of the city ordinance amending a tobacco ordinance to include THC products.

This is just the first hearing meaning it will need to be discussed and approved at a future meeting.

This comes after the state of Minnesota legalized food and drinks containing THC derived from hemp as of July 1, ultimately leaving it up to cities across the state to put their ordinances in place.

Albert Lea is in the process of adding edible cannabinoid products to its current tobacco ordinance.

These cannabis products are limited to 5 milligrams of thc per serving and you must be 21 years old or older to purchase.

The city of Albert Lea will enforce these regulations in order to keep people safe.

“Additionally, the restrictions of age of possession were not included in the statute, only restrictions on the sale of the person is (under the age of 21,” Albert Lea City manager Ian Rigg said.

Local cannabis shop ownerJerry Collins has been working with the city to make sure the ordinance will keep everybody on the same page, but Collins is hoping in the future for the cannabis ordinance to be separate from the city’s tobacco ordinance.

“I think they’re distinctly different products and so we would like to see a standalone ordinance on it at least locally and preferably at the state house. They’re doing cannabis-specific statutes and laws,” said
said Big Dream Organics owner Jerry Collins.

Collins says for his business and others, it gives them a bit more guidance of what they can and cant sell. He adds that people should he buying their THC products from cannabis stores like his, because its safer and you know how much youre getting.

Now, cities across the state are making sure they nail down those final details of their ordinances. Since this new law did take effect July 1, but it sort of left cities scrambling to come up with the best plans for their city.