Cannabis

Information on Cannabis and Hemp Businesses


All Cannabis and Hemp License Applicants

Prior to applying for any kind of cannabis or hemp business license through the State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), it is highly recommended that the applicant has the following items completed or expect completion to happen in 30 days or less:

  1. Check local zoning ordinances for restricted or allowed site locations
    1. Different areas have different requirements for different kinds of businesses (permitted, not permitted, interim or conditional use permits required).
      1. Some locations may require an interim or conditional use permit which can take time for the applicant to obtain.  
    2. Contact the local zoning authority to inquire 
      1. Cities do their own zoning – check the city’s website. 
      2. Becker Township and the Northwest Quarter of Haven Township do their own zoning – check the town’s website.
      3. All other Townships use Sherburne County Planning and Zoning. 
        1. Contact Sherburne County Planning and Zoning at 763-765-4450 or by email at cannabis.licensing@co.sherburne.mn.us 
        2. Please consult the Sherburne County Zoning Ordinance Section 16.8.  The matrix listed in Section 16.8 subd. 3.2 will guide you on the permitted, not permitted and Interim Use Permits in each Zoning District.
        3. Please consult the Sherburne County Zoning Ordinance Section 16.2 subd. 5(8) if an interim use permit (“IUP”) is required.  Contact Sherburne County Planning and Zoning for assistance in applying for an IUP.  The IUP process can take up to 2-3 months and is separate from the cannabis business licensing process through OCM.    
  2. Obtain a passing fire inspection – Applicant Responsibility 
    1. Contact the specific city to learn more about city fire inspection contacts in that particular city.
    2. Contact Sherburne County Planning and Zoning to learn more about township fire inspection contacts.  Call 763-765-4450 or email at cannabis.licensing@co.sherburne.mn.us
    3. Township Fire Department contact information listed below:
  3. Obtain a passing building inspection – Applicant Responsibility 
    1. Contact the specific city to learn more about building inspector contacts in that particular city. 
    2. Contact Becker Township to learn more about building inspectors in Becker Township.
    3. Contact Sherburne County Planning and Zoning to learn more about building inspectors in all other townships.  Call 763-765-4450 or email at cannabis.licensing@co.sherburne.mn.us  The Sherburne County Building Official is Doug Maschler.  He can be contacted at doug.maschler@co.sherburne.mn.us 
  4. Please consult Minnesota Statute Chapter 342 and Minnesota Rules 9810 for further information on state requirements and regulations https://revisor.mn.gov/pubs/ 


Retail Licenses or Retail Endorsements 

Once an applicant is issued a license by OCM there is an additional step for all RETAILERS before they can operate.  (Sometimes called “dispensaries”.)

  1. All cannabis/hemp/lower-potency hemp edible retailers (including retail endorsements for mezzobusiness, microbusiness, and medical) must have a valid retailer registration issued by the appropriate local unit of government before they can operate.  
    1. Licensed retailers located in the following municipalities must submit a retailer registration application to Sherburne County:  
      City of Big Lake

      City of Princeton (within           Sherburne Co)
      		Blue Hill Township  

       Clear Lake Township
      City of Zimmerman  
               
      Becker Township      		Livonia Township

      Orrock Township

      Big Lake Township

      		Palmer Township

      Contact the Sherburne County Auditor-Treasurer’s Office by phone at 763-765-4351 or by email at cannabis.licensing@co.sherburne.mn.us  for application information.

    2. Please see Sherburne County’s Cannabis Retail Registration Ordinance #280 for the restrictions, requirements, and procedures for retailer registration.  A copy can be found at https://co.sherburne.mn.us/651/County-Ordinances 
  2. A retailer located in any other city or township within Sherburne County must contact that local municipality to submit a retailer registration.
  3. Sherburne County has adopted a limit on the number of retailer registrations for cannabis retailers of one store per 12,500 people for each town or city, and for the County registration-area as a whole.   This limit excludes medical cannabis retailers and lower-potency hemp edible retailers “LPHE”.
  4. The City of Big Lake may not have more than 2 retailer registrations.
  5. No township or city (other than the City of Big Lake) registered by Sherburne County may have more than 1 retailer registration. 
  6. The combined area of those cities and towns listed in retail license clause 1.1 above (see gray box above), may not have more than 5 retailer registrations in total. 
  7. Cannabis retailers (excluding medical and LPHE) are encouraged to contact Sherburne County to ask about the number of available registrations and if there is a wait list before or very early on in the application process. Call 763-765-4351 or email at cannabis.licensing@co.sherburne.mn.us 
    1. Wait List:   If there is no available retailer registration for a particular municipality, then Sherburne County will place the applicant on a wait list until such time as a registration becomes available for that particular municipality.  
    2. The waitlist is first come first served.  
    3. If a license issued by OCM expires or terminates prior to such time as a retailer registration becomes available, that applicant will be removed from the wait list.  

More information can be found on the Sherburne County Website here: https://www.co.sherburne.mn.us/205/Other-Licenses