Oral arguments in a would-be cannabis seller's suit against the City of Albert Lea are scheduled for March 5, 2026. In August and September of 2025, would-be cannabis seller Jacob Schlichter filed an appeals court case, then a county court case in an attempt to overturn the city council's decision to award two cannabis retail licenses to other businesses-owners.
While Schlichter's business was approved by the state Office of Cannabis Management, the City of Albert Lea declined to grant him a microbusiness registration in early August, following public concern over Schlichter's previous criminal history involving a minor and allegations of harassment.
Schlichter and representatives argue that the Office of Cannabis Management required that cities issue local retail licenses once sellers were approved at the state level, while the City of Albert Lea claims the OCM gave them permission to conduct criminal background checks and issue licenses only to sellers who passed them.
Schlichter's representatives filed their own brief late Jan. 6, again arguing that the City of Albert Lea did not have authority to withhold a local retail license after Schlichter was approved by the state.
Read more at ABC 6
