The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) approved one updated policy and one new policy regarding cannabis and THC at its May 7, MPRB Board of Commissioners meeting. Both policies go into effect on May 15, 2025.
Updated Tobacco and Cannabis Policy
The current MPRB Tobacco Policy has been updated to include Cannabis and renamed the Tobacco and Cannabis Policy. The policy prohibits smoking and vaping of cannabis in public parks. Like the current Tobacco Policy, it is not enforceable by citation and will not include a petty misdemeanor. Instead, the same approach will be taken as currently applied to tobacco. Any individual will be able to ask or remind another individual to not smoke or vape tobacco and cannabis within the Minneapolis park and recreation system. New signage reflecting the policy update will be installed throughout the park and recreation system this summer.
The policy also refines the definition of traditional tobacco used as part of a traditional spiritual or cultural ceremony.
The Tobacco and Cannabis Policy adds cannabis to the list of becoming completely tobacco free by prohibiting the use of all tobacco products on Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board lands and in Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board owned and/or operated facilities.
New THC Policy
The new THC Policy provides direction on how concessions and permitted events can sell THC edible products within the Minneapolis park and recreation system.
The policy includes provisions that only beverages or edible products containing no more than 5 mg of THC potency per serving are authorized and bans the smoking and/or vaping of cannabis, THC, THC derivatives or synthetically similar products.
Cannabis and THC products means any product containing cannabis flower, cannabis plants or cannabinoids.
The State of Minnesota passed Cannabis Legislation (Chapter 63, H.F. 100) during the 2023 legislative session. Per State Law, smoking and vaping of Cannabis or THC products is allowed on public property but can be prohibited by local jurisdictions. State law also establishes that the use of THC in edibles and beverages can be regulated by local entities.