Rochester City Council Pushed Back Marijuana Retailer Vote

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Rochester City Council voted to table an ordinance that will set the rules for legal marijuana sales throughout the city. 

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Councilmembers took up the measure during a marathon meeting Monday night that stretched into Tuesday morning. City staff is proposing a new ordinance that would limit the number of businesses that would be licensed to sell cannabis products to 1 per 12,500 residents. 

The council heard from several citizens concerned of the impacts marijuana legalization will have on the community. Rochester DFL Rep. Andy Smith also partook in the hearing and asked the council to consider lowering the retailer cap arguing it would allow more opportunities for small business and more competition in the local market place. 

The council had one public hearing left before taking up the agenda item, however the person set to speak declined to do so. Citing the time of night and reports of others wanting to testify but deciding not to do so due to the list of public hearings, the council voted to table the measure until the July 24 meeting. 

The proposed ordinance would also prohibit the establishment of a new cannabis business in Rochester until January 1, 2025. Prior to that date, new population estimates will become available and will likely push the number of licenses available for cannabis retail businesses to at least 10.