County board tables cannabis application
News | Published on October 21, 2025 at 3:07pm GMT+0000 | Author: Tucker Henderson
0Pelican Rapids application to be revisited on Oct. 28
By Tom Hintgen
Otter Tail County Correspondent
The Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners tabled a decision on approving or not approving a retail cannabis business in Pelican Rapids until 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at the County Government Services Center in northwest Fergus Falls.
The five-person county board, at its Sept. 23 meeting, said the board needed more time to define a park “regularly used by minors” which is related to a cannabis business not bring able to operate within 500 feet of the park.
At issue is whether a park in Pelican Rapids is used often by children. Some board members say very few children use the park, and not very often. However, they agreed a clarification was needed before a decision is made on whether to approve the cannabis business application.
County Land and Resource Management Director Chris LeClair, on Sept. 23, held discussion on a cannabis registration application from Scott Dahms for a retail cannabis business in Pelican Rapids. Discussion continued with the county board reviewing the requirements detailed in the county’s ordinance to regulate cannabis.
At 460 feet, this application did not meet the minimum buffer requirement of operation within 500 feet of a state, county or city park that is regularly used by minors.
Discussion continued regarding the definition of “regularly used by minors.” A motion to table a decision until Oct. 28 was made by Commissioner Sean Sullivan of Fergus Falls and seconded by Commission Dan Bucholz of Perham. The motion passed unanimously.
More about MN
cannabis legalization
Recreational cannabis sales, outside tribal jurisdictions, began on Sept. 16, 2025. Earlier, the Minnesota State Legislature approved legalization of cannabis. The state’s new Office of Cannabis Management established a regulatory framework for commercial cultivation and sales.
Minnesota law permits adults who are 21 years of age or older to purchase and possess up to two pounds of marijuana flower in a public space, eight grams of concentrate and 800 mg of infused edibles in a private residence.
Growing at home is permitted, as long as the plants cannot be seen from outside. Individuals may cultivate up to eight plants, with only four flowering at once. Adults who are 21 years of age or older may also gift each other any amount up to the legal limit.