Wayzata takes step toward creating municipal dispensary
The City of Wayzata is one step closer to opening a city-run cannabis dispensary.
With only one council member voting against it, the council and mayor approved a contract – worth at least $15,000 – with Colorado-based consulting firm Point7 to generate a business plan for the possible municipal dispensary.
Already operating a liquor store and restaurant, The Muni, Wayzata is well aware of municipal business operations that generate money for the city.
“We have two goals related to this, first is to diversify revenue,” Emily Goellner, Wayzata’s community development director, said to council members.
“[Then secondly], the community is interested in sustaining its community character and safety, and so that is why the city is exploring the operation of a municipal dispensary to ensure that we protect the community’s wellbeing and safety,” Goellner added.
Wayzata is not the first government to consider this option. It’s part of a workgroup with other municipalities, with Goellner saying nearly 50 government agencies strong.
“I won’t be surprised if a lot of cities look at it,” said DFL Representative Zack Stephenson, who co-led the state cannabis bill that will allow municipalities to do this.
“The experience for a lot of cities has been very
