East Grand Forks approves moratorium on recreational cannabis sales

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – The city council in East Grand Forks voted unanimously on Wednesday to temporarily suspend the sale of recreational cannabis within the city limits for up to two years.

The new statewide recreational cannabis law will go into effect on Aug. 1, however, the law allows for local governments for impose moratoriums on cannabis sales for up to two years after the law takes effect.

According to the Grand Forks Herald, Ron Galstad, city attorney for East Grand Forks, told members of the council the moratorium will allow them to evaluate zoning challenges under the new law and where and when in town those businesses will be allowed to operate.

In addition to the moratorium on cannabis sales, the measure also prohibits the testing, manufacturing, cultivating, growing, transporting, delivery and distribution of cannabis in East Grand Forks.

The city of East Grand Forks is located in Polk County, which also implemented its own cannabis moratorium in February.