Cannabis retail licenses will not be limited in Winona

(KWNO)-The Winona City Council continues to discuss the forthcoming retail cannabis industry. The council established a cap of three dispensaries in the city but at its most recent meeting reversed course.

“We don’t want to encourage people to take these licenses and sit on them or sell them or game the system by placing an artificially high value on them which would happen if there were just three (licenses),” said Councilwoman Pam Eiden.

The state Office of Cannabis Management will conduct background checks on potential cannabis operators and do what city officials called the “subjective” part of the licensing process. The Winona City Clerk’s Office would then handle local compliance as it relates to building codes, property taxes and city fees. 

“The criteria established by the state and the zoning that we’ve already established creates a parameter that’s tight enough that there’s really not a whole lot for us to not approve if they’ve met all those requirements from the state and they’re within the zoning that we’ve already described,” said Councilman Jeff Hyma.

The council voted 5-1 to eliminate the cap on cannabis licenses. Councilman Steve Young was the lone dissenting vote.