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Cannabis and Hemp Retail Sales
Washington County adopted Cannabis Ordinance #219 (PDF) on December 17, 2024. The ordinance is intended to ensure responsible cannabis retailing and allow legal sale and access, while preventing unsafe substance use. It is also intended to discourage violations of cannabis-related laws, especially those which prohibit or discourage the marketing, sale, or distribution of cannabis and cannabis products to youth under age 21
According to MN Statute 342.22, an annual registration to sell cannabis and hemp products is required from the city, township, or county that the retail store is located.
The local registration is automatically assigned to the city or township of where the retail establishment is located. However, some cities or townships may choose to delegate this authority to Washington County.
Cities and Townships under Washington County jurisdiction include:
- Afton
- Denmark Township
- Landfall
- Marine on St. Croix
- May Township
- West Lakeland Township
If your business is not located in one of these cities or townships, please contact the city clerk of your establishment’s location for registration information.
Note: Washington County does not review or provide any zoning certification. You will need to reach out to the city or township for zoning approval, regardless of if they’ve delegated registration authority to Washington County.
Cannabis Retail Business
Any Cannabis Retailer, Microbusiness, Mezzobusiness, or Medical Cannabis Combination business with a license or endorsement from the Office of Cannabis Management for retail sales.
- Initial cost: The initial cost of a Cannabis Retail Business registration is $500.
- Renewal cost: The renewal registration fee is $1000.
According to MN Statue 342.22 subd 2. The initial registration fee covers your first two years of operation, then on the third year, you will be charged the renewal registration fee.
Hemp Retail Business
Any lower-potency hemp edible retailer with a license or endorsement from the Office of Cannabis Management to sell Lower-Potency Hemp Edible products for retail sale.
- Initial cost: The initial registration for a Hemp Retail Business registration is $125.
- Renewal cost: The renewal registration fee is $125.
According to MN Statue 342.22 subd 2. The initial registration fee covers your first two years of operation, then on the 3rd year, you will be charged the renewal registration fee.
Note for Hemp Retail Businesses: Review this (May 27, 2025) press release from the Office of Cannabis Management for the current state of hemp business licensing, guidance for current and prospective business that sell hemp-derived cannabinoid products (HDCP), and the transition from a HDCP retailer to a lower-potency hemp edible retailer. Register your HDCP retail establishment at Office of Cannabis Management - Registration Information for Hemp Retailers.
Step 1: Obtain a license or license pre-approval
Prior to applying for a registration, obtain a license or license pre-approval from the Office of Cannabis Management. Visit OCM’s licensing webpage for more information.
Step 2: Apply for registration
- Fill out the application.
- Upon receipt of the application, a staff member will review your application for completeness and then an invoice will be sent to you for payment. Once the application and fee are received, a staff member will arrange a pre-licensing inspection of your business with you.
New registered retail establishment
Notify Washington County within 30 days of intent to open a cannabis or hemp retail establishment.
All registrations issued are valid only on the premises for which the registration was issued and only for the person to whom the registration was issued.
Change of ownership of a registered retail establishment
All cannabis and hemp registrations issued by Washington County are non-transferable.
If you sell or change ownership of the registered retail establishment, the new owner will need to apply for and receive their registration before they begin to sell tobacco products.
Renewals
The renewal of the registration will need to be completed every year. A renewal application will be sent to the business approximately 30-60 days prior to the expiration of the current registration.
Compliance checks
In accordance with Section 6 of the Washington County Cannabis Ordinance #219 (PDF), retail establishments with a Washington County registration will have a minimum of 3 compliance checks every year. Two of the compliance checks will be age compliance checks where the Washington County Sheriff’s Office will use underage buyers between 17-20 to attempt to purchase cannabis and hemp product. One of the compliance checks will be a staff member from the Washington County Public Health and Environment (PHE) to verify compliance with the ordinance.
Penalties for failing an age compliance check will result in the following fines:
- 1st Offense: $500 fine.
- 2nd Offense (within 36 months): $750 fine.
- 3rd Offense (within 36 months): $1,000 fine.
- 4th Offense (within 36 months): License revocation.
Rules
It is the responsibility of all cannabis and hemp businesses within the county to follow all rules within Washington County Cannabis Ordinance #219 (PDF).
The following rules apply to all cannabis and hemp businesses within the county whether registered by the county or by a local city or township:
- No Sales to Underage Buyers: Cannabis products cannot be sold to anyone under the age of 21
- No Admittance of any person under 21 – Registered Cannabis Retail Businesses must prohibit persons under the age of 21 from entering at all times, except that a business licensed or endorsed to sell Medical Cannabinoid Product may allow entry to a person under 21 years of age who is enrolled in the medical registry program.
- Minimum Clerk Age – Sale clerks at registered cannabis retailers must be at least 21 years of age to sell or handle cannabis product.
- No Self-Service Sales – All cannabis product, including low potency hemp edible beverages, must not be freely accessible by the general public for self-service. **Retail establishments that are licensed for off-sale intoxicating liquor sales may have multi-pack lower-potency available for self-service, but single cans must not be accessible for self-service.
- Battery Powered Electronic Delivery Devices – Retail establishments that sell battery powered single-use or disposable electronic delivery devices with embedded or inseparable batters must have a take back program for those devices that have been sold by the establishment.
- Age Verification – Before the sale of any cannabis product, registered retail establishments must verify that the customer is at 21 years of age or older by means of a government-issued photographic identification.
- Posted Signage – All registered retail establishments must post the Washington County provided sign in a prominent and plain view location.
- No Vending Machine Sales: Cannabis products cannot be sold through vending machines
- No Sampling: No licensee or their agent shall distribute samples of any cannabis product free of charge or at a nominal cost. The distribution of licensed products as a free donation is prohibited.
- No Moveable Place of Business – Only fixed location businesses may sell cannabis product. This rule does not prohibit deliver of cannabis product.
- Indoor Smoking Prohibited – Smoking, including vape devices, is prohibited in indoor areas.
For the latest updates on licensing and registration, check the following resources:
All registered retail establishments are required to display signage (provided by the Washington County Public Health and Environment Department) in a prominent and plain view location (per section 6.4 of Cannabis Ordinance #219).
THC Poisoning Symptoms and How to Get Help
If you suspect a THC poisoning or if a child consumes any amount of cannabis not medically certified for them, call a medical professional or MN Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 immediately.
There are many symptoms of THC poisoning, including extreme confusion or anxiety, paranoia or panic, fast heart rate or increased blood pressure, hallucinations, severe nausea, or vomiting.
Tennessen Warning/Privacy Notice: You are not legally required to provide the requested data and may refuse to do so. However, without the requested information Washington County may not be able to fully investigate the complaint. The information you are providing is voluntary with some questions being optional. The information being collected may be used to gather more information or for follow-up on a complaint investigation. All personal information provided will remain private. The information collected may be used by Washington county staff for the purposes of investigating the complaint, following up on the complaint and/or enforcement. Data collected may be shared upon court order or provided to the state or legislative auditor.
To report a concern or complaint about a licensed establishment go to Report a Concern and submit the information or email phe@co.washington.mn.us.
If you suspect that you have become ill from food or water, call the Minnesota Department of Health Foodborne Illness Hotline at 1-877-FOOD-ILL (1-877-366-3455) or fill out an online Foodborne and Waterborne Illness Report.