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4. The City Council, therefore, finds that there is a need to adopt a city-wide moratorium on the retail sale, wholesale sale, <br />testing, growing, cultivating, manufacturing, transporting, delivery of, and distribution of Cannabis Products, including <br />products: using any part of the genus Cannabis plant; containing cannabis concentrate; infused with cannabinoids <br />(including but not limited to tetrahydrocannabinol); extracted or derived from cannabis plants or cannabis flower; <br />synthetically derived cannabinoids, or lower potency hemp edibles that contain more than 0.3% of <br />Tetrahydrocannabinol, within the City while City staff studies the issue. <br />Section 3. Moratorium. <br />1. No individual, establishment, organization, or business may engage in the retail sale, wholesale sale, testing, growing, <br />cultivating, manufacturing, transporting, delivery of or distribution of Cannabis Products, including products using any <br />part of the plant of the genus Cannabis plant; containing cannabis concentrate; infused with cannabinoids (including but <br />not limited to tetrahydrocannabinol); extracted or derived from cannabis plants or cannabis flower; synthetically <br />derived cannabinoids, or lower potency hemp edibles that contain more than 0.3% of Tetrahydrocannabinol, before <br />January 1, 2025. <br />2. Planning or zoning applications related to any of the products listed in Section 3.1 herein or applications from <br />individuals, establishments, organizations, or businesses involved in the proposed sale, testing, growing, cultivating, <br />manufacturing, transporting, delivery of or distribution of Cannabis Products within the City of Gem Lake shall not be <br />accepted or considered before January 1, 2025. <br />3. This moratorium does not apply to the selling, testing, manufacturing, or distributing of Cannabis Products related to <br />the Medical Cannabis Program as administered by the Minnesota Department of Health, provided that such activity is <br />done in accordance with the regulations and laws of Minnesota regarding Medical Cannabis. <br />4. This moratorium does not apply to the continued sale of THC Products allowed under the 2022 Legislation and Gem <br />Lake City Code Ordinance No. 139, which includes edible and nonedible cannabinoid products that contain no more <br />than 0.3% of Tetrahydrocannabinol, by retailers in existence before July 1, 2023. <br />Section 4. Study. The City Council directs City staff to study the need for local regulation regarding the retail sale, wholesale <br />sale, testing, growing, cultivating, manufacturing, transporting, delivery or distribution of Cannabis Products listed in Section 3.1 <br />herein within the City of Gem Lake. Staff must also study the need for creating or amending zoning ordinances, licensing <br />ordinances, as allowed by the state, or any other ordinances, as allowed and not preempted by the state, to protect the citizens of <br />Gem Lake from any potential negative impacts. Upon completion of the study, the City Council, together with such commission <br />as the City Council deems appropriate or, as may be required by law, will consider the advisability of adopting new ordinances or <br />amending its current ordinances. <br />Section 5. Enforcement. The City may enforce this Ordinance by mandamus, injunctive relief, or other appropriate civil remedy <br />in any court of competent jurisdiction. The City Council hereby authorizes the Administrator, Clerk/Treasurer, in consultation <br />with the City Attorney, to initiate any legal action deemed necessary to secure compliance with this Ordinance. A violation of <br />this Ordinance is also subject to the City's general penalty. <br />Section 6. Term. Unless earlier rescinded by the City Council, the moratorium established under this Ordinance shall remain in <br />effect until January 1, 2025. The City Council hereby elects that all legally compliant portions of this Ordinance be extended for <br />the maximum duration permitted by law, unless rescinded earlier by separate action of the City Council. <br />Section 7. Effective Date. This ordinance shall have full force and effect upon its passage and publication. <br />Dated: July 18, 2023 <br />APPROVED: <br />Gretchen Artig-Swomley, Mayor <br />Ordinance No. 139 Cannabis & CBD Sales & Distribution <br />ATTEST: <br />Melissa Lawrence, Acting City Clerk <br />