The discussions that the council has had in general, that there’s a prohibition right now against liquor stores and on sale liquor establishments with regard to THC products. It appears that members of the council want to see that change.”

Community Development Director John Hinzman

A zoning ordinance change that would allow products containing cannabis to be sold at on and off sale liquor establishments will be reviewed again on Monday night by the Hastings Planning Commission.

The planners tabled the measure at their Nov. 13 meeting, seeking information as to why one commercial zoning district was excluded from the zoning change.

A public hearing was held on the proposed ordinance change, with no one from the public attending. Community Development Director John Hinzman said he would confer with staff on why on or off sale liquor businesses zoned C-1 would not be allowed to sell the cannabis products. The proposed change before the planning commission for this coming Monday’s meeting has that exclusion dropped.

The Minnesota Legislature and Gov. Timothy Walz legalized marijuana effective Aug. 1 in the state, making it the 23^rd state to legalize cannabis for people 21 and over. The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management is working to draft rules governing the cannabis industry.

Prior to the legislature’s action, in April, Hastings put ordinances into place requiring establishments that sell cannabis products to be licensed. The zoning ordinances were changed to allow commercial districts where the products can be sold.

“We adopted the original THC ordinances here, and we were a little bit ahead of what was happening at the state capitol at that point. We did it a little bit different than some cities where we had a zoning ordinance portion of it as well as a licensing,” Hinzman told planning commissioners. “That’s why this portion related to zoning district comes through the zoning code and through planning commission tonight. The discussions that the council has had in general, that there’s a prohibition right now against liquor stores and on sale liquor establishments with regard to THC products. It appears that members of the council want to see that change.”

If the planning commission recommends approval of the zoning change, it likely will get on the Hastings City Council agenda for its Dec. 4 meeting.

The ordinance would allow the liquor stores and bars with the on and off sale licenses to sell beverages and other products that contain cannabis.

The ordinance states that the products can contain no more than 0.3 percent of THC, the component in cannabis that causes intoxication.

Hinzman also put out a message to close the meeting that the planning commission is still short one member, and he’s hoping someone from the community will step and volunteer to be a part of the commission.

“One of the things we are looking for right now are planning commissioners. We have one vacancy that we’ve had for most of the year here. Anyone who may be interested in joining the planning commission, please look at the website or give me a call. We’d love to be able to fill that seat here,” Hinzman said.