"Vegan, THC-infused Hi Flora is closing its Lyndale Avenue restaurant and temperance bar in early December. Owner Heather Klein made the announcement on Instagram, explaining that she has struggled to obtain a permanent liquor license, which allows Minnesota businesses to sell low-potency hemp products for onsite consumption. Hi Flora is based around its THC hemp tinctures, which customers can sprinkle into drinks or on food. The restaurant was forced to stop selling the tinctures on August 1 due to new labeling regulations, and sales dropped 50 percent, according to Klein. “The truth is, without the ability to offer either alcohol or hemp in this industry we can’t sustain the high costs of this location,” Klein writes. According to the Star Tribune, the restaurant was also recently hit with a $7,500 fine from the Office of Cannabis Management. However, it may not be the end of the road for Hi Flora. “This reality has been hard to accept, especially since we’ve built a one-of-a-kind safe space that’s all about plants, wellness, healing and connection without alcohol,” Klein writes, but adds that she’s exploring new “options and opportunities.” In the meantime, both the restaurant and the storefront are open through Thursday, December 5." - Justine Jones
