Greg Lien's hope to open a cannabis business in Silver Bay is dead in the water. Since Minnesota legalized adult-use cannabis in 2023, he's done his due diligence in getting preapproval from the state's cannabis agency for a microbusiness license. He's spent hundreds of hours on his license application — from preparing a 150-page business plan to submitting a commercial leasing agreement and more for his manufacturing and cultivation facility.
"I slogged through it myself, and it was accepted without revisions," he said. He never thought his biggest obstacle would be his local government.
"It's got to be frustrating for any business that explores a new venture, invests all kinds of time and money into it and then the city drags their feet and then nixes it at the last minute," said Lien.
The City of Silver Bay, a town of 1,800 residents, adopted an ordinance on Jan. 21 that states the city "will not issue a registration or license to any retail cannabis business, temporary cannabis event or other cannabis business."
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