Cannabis Licensing and Registration
Selling cannabis or lower-potency hemp edibles in Otter Tail County requires both a state license from the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and registration with Otter Tail County. Neither alone is sufficient.
Steps to get licensed and registered
- Apply for a license through the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). All cannabis retail businesses must obtain a state license or retail endorsement before operating. Visit the OCM website for current application requirements and timelines.
- Receive your preliminary (pre-approved) license from OCM. You cannot register with the county until this preliminary license is in hand.
- Submit a registration application to Otter Tail County. Once you have your OCM preliminary license, submit a registration application to the county as soon as possible.
- Receive county registration and pay the registration fee. A fee is required upon final approval. Registration must be renewed periodically to continue operating.
What the county ordinance covers
The county ordinance governs the following activities:
- Cannabis retail sales
- Cannabis cultivation
- Manufacturing cannabis-derived products
- Organizing cannabis-related events
- Lower-potency hemp edible retail
Information for cities and townships
Cities and townships can adopt their own ordinances or delegate authority to the county. More information can be found on the website of the Office for Cannabis Management (OCM).
- If your city or township decides to delegate authority to the county, please consider passing a resolution that can be provided to the county. A resolution template is available on our website (Word, PDF).
- If your city or township delegates authority to the county, a delegation form is available on the OCM website to fill out and submit for their records. It is our understanding that cities and townships delegating authority are required to submit a delegation form to OCM.
In addition to the delegation form, it is recommended that all cities and townships register with Accela through OCM for notification of license applications that are pre-approved. This will provide opportunities for cities and townships to be notified about the license pre-approval as well as ensure that it meets local zoning compliance verification requirements prior to final approval.