Jacob Schlichter of The Smoking Tree LLC is suing the City of Albert Lea for blocking registration of his recreational-cannabis dispensary in late July.

The lawsuit was filed Monday and alleges the city’s rejection was based “purely on politics — specifically, members’ policy disagreements with Minnesota law.” It also cites comments made by city council members disagreeing with state cannabis statutes.

Schlichter gained attention as one of the first people in the state to complete the Office of Cannabis Management’s licensing process to sell recreational cannabis. Then, Albert Lea’s city council denied Schlichter’s business in a July 28 city council meeting after lengthy discussion about lack of local control under state cannabis laws.

“The City Council neither had nor articulated a bas

See Full Page