Monday night the Hopkins City Council will look at options for how to regular the sale of THC edibles and beverages after Minnesota's new law allowing for the sale of hemp-derived THC that went into effect on July 1.
Under state law, Minnesotans can purchase food and beverages with up to 5 milligrams of THC per serving. Packaged products are limited at 50 milligrams per package.
In their meeting materials, the Hopkins City Council includes two possible routes when it comes to the new law, including licensing and zoning ordinances, or a moratorium ordinance.
The moratorium ordinance, which would prohibit the sale, testing, manufacturing, and distribution in the City for up to one year, is reportedly not favored by the council.
"The council's really against the moratorium, which surprised me at first because I talked to them all individually," said Hopkins City Manager, Mike Mornson. "They thought if businesses can make some money under this new law, why not work with them? So that's the approach we're taking."
Hopkins' THC-ordinance could be in effect as soon as mid-September, over two months after the state law went into effect.
"We know there's at least one tobacco business in Hopkins that's selling THC products," he said. "The law took effect July 1 and we really didn't get a handle on it until July 20. They can continue to sell it until the ordinance is adopted, and then we will have to have a conversation with them to make sure they're in compliance."
Hopkins-based Bear Cave Brewing, which opened its doors in May, is one business hoping to reap the rewards from the state's THC edibles and beverages industry.
The brewery featuring two floors of self-pour beer taps plans to make THC seltzers and edibles, along with CBD non-alcoholic beer.
"The seltzers will be sold in crowlers for consumption off-site," said Bear Cave Brewing General Manager, Dan Murray. "I don't know if we will be promoting our THC products, we just want to see how it goes."
Developing THC edibles is a unique opportunity for Bear Cave Brewing's chef, Mark Paavola.
"It puts a whole new dimension into cooking," Paavola said. "Normally we're feeding the soul and the body in a different way. We're trying to figure out what adding a THC-element will mean. Our thoughts are keep it simple and small."
Paavola says that means keeping doses of THC to about 2.5 milligrams per serving.
"We don't want to make a statement that this is a place to come get high or drunk. That's not our mission. Our mission is to be a health community member."
Businesses like Bear Cave Brewing looking to sell THC products in Hopkins will likely be subject to compliance checks when the city's ordinance passes, similar to compliance checks where underage buyers of alcohol or tobacco are sent into businesses.
"We also do an educational service for all of our establishments, but I don't know if we'd do that in this case," Mornson said. "We're not overly worried about businesses selling THC products. There's a state law in place and my assumption is our ordinance will mirror the state law as much as it can, with a few exceptions including we want to know who's selling and issue a license."
