The city of Mora will move forward with an ordinance regarding public use of marijuana after Tuesday’s meeting.
The city council voted to set a public hearing on a measure modeled after the one adopted by the Kanabec County Board earlier in April.
Kanabec County Community Health Director Kathy Burski explained that having similar measures on the city and county level would make enforcement easier.
"For law enforcement, it certainly makes it easier if it's similar throughout the whole county and with the cities as well," Burski said. "It's getting nice out, we're going to start having a lot more people in those public parks and places, so I do feel like the sooner, the better."
A violation of the county ordinance constitutes a petty misdemeanor, with a fine up to $300.
Mayor Jake Mathison expressed concerns about the enforceability of an ordinance.
"Well, it's unenforceable," Mathison said. "Again, that's the problem with a lot of this, is that this all looks great, banning it in food establishments and their decks, but it's gonna come down to enforcement. And is local law enforcement going to be willing to enforce this? Because people are going to do it. They're going to try."
A public hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
