During their meeting on Tuesday night, the Northfield City Council passed the first reading of an ordinance that would regulate the sale of consumable cannabinoid products. 
When the Minnesota Legislature passed a law legalizing hemp in Minnesota, there were provisions in the law that also legalized consumable products that include hemp derived Delta 9 THC. However, there is almost no regulatory language in the law. It states that an individual must be at least 21 years old to buy the products, it establishes limitations on the amount of THC the product can contain, there are packaging rules, and there a few other minor stipulations, but there is little else.
That, said City Administrator Ben Martig, puts municipalities in a bind.
“There is no structure to review what’s going on out there,” he said. “And there is no compliance capacity.”
The ordinance before the council seeks to address those issues. It would establish a licensing program for cannabinoids similar to the way the city regulates alcohol and tobacco.
“That way,” said Martig, “businesses would have to register, and we would know where they are, and the police department can run compliance checks to make sure these products are being sold the right way.”
Martig also said the police would also be able to review the products themselves to ensure their legality.
City Councilor Jami Reister said that the ordinance is not perfect, but that is because the way the state has legalized consumables is chaotic. The council has some varying viewpoints on how to approach the issue, but they all agree that putting no regulation in place would be a mistake.
She said licensing fees will be discussed at the Council’s next regular meeting. The fees will have to be high enough to fund the compliance program the police department will have to establish, and she said, as a trained physician, she is hopeful some of the money will also be used to educate kids about the products as well.
“I really hope that our community and our schools take some time to educate about this. It is it is not a harmless substance. It is an intoxicating substance. We do see overdoses and ingestion by children when this becomes legal in communities. We know it has brain development and cognitive and academic effects on youth who start to use. So, I do hope that our city and our schools take some time also for education on the topic.”
The second reading is scheduled for the next regular city council meeting on September 20th.
NH+C to open Jefferson Road Urgent Care clinic
Northfield Hospital + Clinics is set to open the urgent care facility at 2014 Jefferson Road on Highway 3 next week.
The hospital assumed control of the space, which had formerly been an urgent care clinic but closed during the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic, last year. Originally there had been an intention to open the clinic in late February, but staffing issues delayed the process.
“We haven’t had any trouble hiring for this location,” said Nicole Strusz-Mueller, the Director of NH+C clinics, “but we’ve needed the people that we hired to work in other locations as well.”
“It’s about consistency of care,” said NH+C Communications Director Betsy Spethmann, “and making sure we always have people ready to help our patients.”
The clinic is equipped with a lab facility and a brand-new X-Ray machine. There are five exam rooms in the facility and a procedure room, where providers can put a splint on a patient or stitch up a wound.
Urgent Care facilities are typically able to treat non-emergency conditions like ear infections, sprains and broken bones, and fever or flu conditions. Those who have head injuries, severe bleeding, chest pains or other more serious conditions should go to an emergency room.
Sheena Bucholtz (DNP APRN FNP-C), a highly certified nurse practitioner who will be one of three health care providers at the clinic said it is well prepared to handle those non-emergency situations.
“With our lab facility we can help quite a bit,” she said. “We can handle strep or other infections, Covid, even issues with women’s health.
“And if we can’t help you here, we are a part of the NH+C network, so we can get you the help you need.”
That, said Strusz-Mueller, is a great benefit to both the clinic and its patients.
“We can set appointments anywhere in our system, right from our front desk. So, if we aren’t able to treat you here, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you will receive the treatment you need.”
The clinic will be open five days a week, The hours are Noon to 7:30 Monday, Thursday and Friday, and 9am to 1pm Saturday and Sunday. It will be closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Spethmann said the clinic will open its doors next Thursday, September 15th.
Safe rides available for DJJD
The Defeat of Jesse James Days begins in earnest today, and as always public safety is a major concern during Northfield’s busiest weekend. To that end the Rice County Safe Roads Coalition has coordinated several options to help people enjoy themselves to the fullest and still get home safely.
The Joyride program will offer free rides within the city of Northfield tonight, tomorrow and Saturday. The bus will pick riders up at the corner of 5th and Water streets. Tickets are free and are used only to give the driver an address. They can be found at the DJJD Entertainment Center and at most bars and restaurants around town.
First Choice Shuttle will be offering rides as well from Thursday through Sunday for $10 within the city of Northfield and an additional $1.60 per mile outside of the city limits. The shuttles will pick up passengers at the Forget-Me-Not Flowers parking lot between 7am and 11pm on Thursday and Sunday, and from 7am to 1am on Friday and Saturday.
And City Gal Transportation will offer rides within the city limits of Northfield for $7 and for an additional $1.60 per mile outside of town from 7am until 3am. The City Gal, whose name is Virginia Klinger, will pick up passengers in her black SUV on the corner of Division Street between 5th and 6th Streets.
For more information or to arrange a ride, contact First Choice Shuttle at 507-645-4447, and City Gal Transportation at 612-840-1687.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
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