NEW ULM – The Cannabis and Hemp Retail ordinance will soon be law in New Ulm.

The New Ulm City Council conducted the second reading of the cannabis ordinance Tuesday and unanimously approved the new amendment to the city code. The ordinance will formally take effect 30 days after this adoption.

The new ordinance establishes regulations and conditions for operating cannabis businesses and events.

Before approving the ordinance, City Manager Chris Dalton provided the council with an overview of the law.

The ordinance would limit the City of New Ulm to two cannabis retail licenses. The cannabis license registration fee would be $350 and $700 for a license renewal. Hours of operation of cannabis businesses would be limited to 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. Temporary cannabis events would be allowed from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. all week. On-site consumption during cannabis events would be allowed outdoors but behind commercial-grade fencing.

Councilor Eric Warmka made the motion to adopt the ordinance with a second from Councilor David Christian. He said throughout the process he heard no negative comments about the ordinance. The city was aware cannabis legalization was coming and he applauded city staff for their work in drafting the ordinance.

Immediately following the adoption of the ordinance the council passed another resolution to adopt the fee schedule related to cannabis and hemp retail. The schedule set a retail business license at $350 with an annual renewal at $700. An annual fee for a low-potency hemp retailer license was set at $50. A fee for a cannabis event was set at $100 per day.

The council meeting was attended by Glenn Hauser, who along with his business partners has expressed interest in opening a cannabis retail business in New Ulm. Hauser has spoken at previous New Ulm Planning Commission and city council meetings to answer questions about the cannabis retail industry. Hauser said he was happy to answer any questions, that the laws were new to everybody, and that he wanted to educate everyone. In this most recent meeting he did not need to answer any questions, the council agreed to adopt the ordinance with minimal discussion.

Hauser said overall he was pleased with how the city and staff handled the passage of the ordinance. He said everyone was respectful throughout the process.

Hauser said he and his business partners plan to operate a cannabis growing operation out of Lafayette with a retail shop in New Ulm. He said there was still a lot of paperwork needed before the business could open but the adoption of the ordinance was a first step in the right direction.

The cannabis and hemp retail ordinance will formally go into effect 30 days after adoption of the ordinance on Thursday, May 1.