BYRON, Minn. — Cannabis sales could become a money-maker for the city of Byron.

The city’s Economic Development Authority voted unanimously on Tuesday to go forward with plans for a state-issued municipal cannabis license. The application period for such licenses opened on Tuesday. Minnesota is the only U.S. state that allows municipal-owned and operated dispensaries.

A feasibility study, prepared by Delaney Consulting, established the basis for proceeding with the license application and pointed the way to begin the process. Even if the city receives a license, it could decide not to carry through with opening a dispensary. It has one year from the time of the license issuance to open a facility.

A dispensary in Byron would potentially be the second such outlet in southeastern Minnesota.
The first recreational cannabis dispensary opened June 29, 2024, near Red Wing, at the Prairie Island Indian Community.

For Byron, a cannabis dispensary would be “a good source of revenue,” according to a statement on the EDA’s decision posted to the
city’s Facebook page,
and would “give the city of Byron another source of income to lighten the load of Byron property taxpayers.”

The application deadline is March 14. According to the city, the outcome of its application “probably won’t be known until late spring.”

“Applying for the license and even receiving one, doesn’t lock us into going ahead with a dispensary,” said City Administrator Al Roder. “But the window to apply for a license is very small.”