The Minneapolis City Council is considering a new ordinance requiring cannabis and hemp retailers to register with the city.

The ordinance would codify state law passed in 2024, Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management spokesperson Jim Walker said. Under the ordinance, businesses without a license may be inspected and fined. City staff will present the ordinance to the City Council’s Business, Housing & Zoning Committee on April 8. 

Zoe Thiel, manager of the city’s Small Business Team, said it is the local government’s responsibility to register all businesses in the city that sell cannabis and hemp products. 

While adult-use cannabis is not sold in stores, THC derived from hemp plants can be sold, Thiel said. Businesses will need to apply for licenses from the state, then register with the city to sell cannabis. 

The current cycle to get licenses closed on March 24. Walker said the next opening will be announced later. 

“We will hold the lottery for capped license types this summer. After that, we will consider our options,” Walker said in an email response.

Since cannabis was legalized in 2023, Hideaway in Dinkytown manager Marianna Peters said the state has continued to tinker with regulations, putting a dent in their sales. 

Two years ago, any strength of delta could be sold in any milligram amount, Peters said. Now, only Delta-9 can be sold in 50mg bags. 

“We are lucky to have other products in our shop because these regulations are really messing with small businesses,” Peters said. 

A lot of the products being sold in Hideaway, such as hemp flower disposables and THC pre-rolls, would be banned by some proposed state regulations, Peters said. 

Thiel said knowing where cannabis and hemp businesses are located is crucial for the city to be able to check that those businesses are not selling to people under 21 years old and how to contact them. 

ID checks keep Hideaway on the good side of state and city regulators, Peters said. He added that banning certain cannabis and hemp products could lead to people simply finding other, less safe places to buy what they want.

“People are going to get what they want no matter what,” Peters said. “Either we sell it to them safely or they get it from somewhere else with potential added chemicals.”