The Isanti County Board of Commissioners will have a public hearing at their Sept. 5 meeting to discuss an ordinance on recreational marijuana.
The board is weighing a measure to regulate the use of cannabis in public spaces.
At an Aug. 8 Committee of the Whole meeting, county attorney Jeff Edblad shared a draft ordinance for the board’s consideration.
Edblad said quality of life is the focal point for the regulation.
"Unless we act to pass an ordinance prohibiting public use of cannabis or use in public places, it would be able to be used on sidewalks, outside of restaurants, and parks," Edblad explained.
Commissioner Bill Berg expressed a desire to see the county take a strong stance on cannabis.
"If people want to make the decision to use cannabis, they can make that decision, but I'd like to protect the general public from that who choose not to," Berg said.
The county waited to bring the ordinance to the board to see what was passed in the cities of Cambridge, Isanti, and Braham.
