Could Municipal Dispensaries Be Next For Central Minnesota?

WOULD WE WELCOME A MUNICIPAL CANNABIS DISPENSARY IN ST CLOUD?

Should St. Cloud consider the option of having a municipal cannabis dispensary? It should be something our community members wanting to be involved in the industry should be discussing.

OTHER CITIES IN MINNESOTA CONSIDERING THE POSSIBILITY

The city of Wyzata, Minnesota is seriously considering it; and they are getting closer and closer to opening a city-run cannabis dispensary after the council and mayor of the city approved a contract with a consulting firm out of Colorado called Point7 recently, to help them create a business plan for the municipal dispensary should they decide to create one.

Photo by CRYSTALWEED cannabis on Unsplash

CENTRAL MINNESOTA

Wyzata already operates a liquor store and restaurant, so they understand how a dispensary could generate money for their city. If St. Cloud created a municipal store, does that mean our surrounding cities here in Minnesota should also create those opportunities? Sauk Rapids? St. Joseph? Waite Park?

Get our free mobile app

Getty Images

LICENSING FOR MUNICIPALITIES

According to an article with kstp.com, DFL Representative Zack Stephenson said, "I won't be surprised if a lot of cities look at it. The experience for a lot of cities has been very positive on municipal liquor stores. So it's not surprising to me that they're looking at this."

The state is not issuing licenses for municipalities to operate dispensaries as of yet, but it does look like lawmakers and community leaders are interested in the discussions of the possibility.

How would this affect others applying for licenses?
Would a municipality be better for our communities?
Would it hurt other businesses looking at going into the same industry, offering the municipality an unfair advantage for success vs. those that are not a municipality?
Would it affect pricing?
Would there be too much control over product or not enough?