St. Paul weighs ban on marijuana smoking in city-controlled spaces
The St. Paul City Council will hear testimony Wednesday on a proposal that would ban marijuana and cigarette smoking on city property.
The proposed ordinance would make it a petty misdemeanor to smoke cannabis flower, cannabis products and hemp-derived products on city-controlled property. It would ban smoking cigars, joints, blunts, pipes or vapes. It would also ban possession of a lit joint, pipe or other smoking device.
The proposal is sponsored by Ward 3 Council Member Chris Tolbert and describes the need to protect city residents from the dangers of second-hand smoke and to protect people under 21 from exposure to marijuana.
The regulation would also cover tobacco use because St. Paul doesn’t currently have an ordinance that bans cigarette smoking in city-owned spaces, Tolbert said as he introduced the bill last month.
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St. Paul City Council Member Chris Tolbert, pictured here in 2019, is the sponsor of the proposal to ban marijuana and cigarette smoking on city property.
Evan Frost | MPR News
“It’s not just about you smoking, it’s the effects that it has on other people around you,” Tolbert said. “If you’re going to be smoking, it does affect other people, and that’s what we’re regulating.”
Ward 4 Council Member Mitra Jalali said at the meeting that she understands the need to ban from places like playgrounds, but is concerned about the level of restrictions in the proposal, which she said could undermine the State Legislature’s intent in legalizing marijuana to advance racial equity in the state and avoid unnecessary penalties.
“This is far-reaching language that would be sweeping in effect to all different types of parks facilities… it could extend to the public right of way, to sidewalks,” Jalali said. “Based on the language I’m reading, you would not be able to smoke cannabis legally virtually anywhere in the city unless you own and live in a single-family home as your own property.”
Ward 4 Council Member Mitra Jalali, pictured here in July, is concerned about the level of restrictions in the proposal, which she said could undermine the State Legislature’s intent in legalizing marijuana to advance racial equity in the state and avoid unnecessary penalties.
Kerem Yücel | MPR News
Other cities around the state including Duluth and Detroit Lakes have enacted bans on marijuana smoking in some city-controlled spaces.
Members of the city council will consider community input on the proposed ordinance Wednesday afternoon. Most of the comments already submitted electronically to the council were critical of the proposal.
Eric Mehr of Highland Park said in his comment to the council that the proposal would “keep cannabis illegal for people that can’t afford private property.”
“Since [Aug. 1] I have been regularly smoking cannabis while I walk my dog and it has been amazing,” Mehr said. “I haven’t received any complaints or dirty looks from my fellow residents.”
Another city resident, Andrew Wagner, asked the council to ban marijuana use in parks and other spaces. He said St. Paul “residents should be able to enjoy public spaces without being subjected to the stench of cannabis.”
The Minnesota Medical Association (MMA) submitted an email supporting the measure.
“The city of St. Paul has an opportunity to help to shape healthy community norms, and an opportunity to ensure that those community members that use outdoor spaces such as public parks are able to do so safely,” said the MMA’s William Nicholson. “I urge the city of St. Paul to acknowledge the negative long-term health effects of allowing smoking or vaping in its public spaces and adopt an ordinance to protect the residents of this community.”
The state of Minnesota legalized personal marijuana use and possession of some amounts of marijuana on Aug. 1, but the rollout of the state licensing system isn’t expected until next year. The state legislation allows cities to enact temporary moratoriums on marijuana use until January 2025.
Junior Diaz smokes a joint on 7th Avenue during a celebration at First Avenue, marking the legalization of recreational cannabis on Aug. 1.
Nicole Neri for MPR News
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