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Albert Lea votes no to city’s first cannabis retailer
Albert Lea, MN – July 29, 2025 — In a sharply decisive move, the local electorate has rejected the establishment of the city's first recreational cannabis retailer. The vote came days after The Smoking Tree, led by owner Jacob Schlichter, had received a microbusiness license from the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and completed city registration paperwork. The council had been poised to consider final approval, as the city caps retail cannabis businesses at two within its limits.
Despite state mandates requiring that cities accommodate at least one cannabis retail license for every 12,500 residents, Albert Lea's City Council previously opted for a more conservative approach—initially allowing only two retail establishments and planning to fill those slots on a first-come, first-served registration basis Registration criteria also included eligibility checks—such as no overdue municipal accounts or property taxes in the past 24 months.
Council members and community stakeholders supported this cautious rollout strategy. Officials cited concerns about store locations near sensitive sites—like schools, daycares, parks, or places of worship—and aimed to balance responsible business growth with public health and welfare.
Zoning rules introduced in 2024 stipulated strict setbacks of at least 1,000 feet from schools or 500 feet from daycare or religious sites—designed to alleviate fears about exposure or inappropriate placement
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