An updated policy by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board prohibits smoking or vaping of cannabis in public parks.
But don't expect to see much enforcement. As with tobacco, it's being implemented as a policy - not an ordinance - meaning you won't see any park police handing out citations.
"Our board looked at that and said, 'well, they want to ban smoking and vaping within the Minneapolis park system,' they did not want it to be an ordinance and they did not want to attach any type of a citation to it," says Deputy Superintendent of the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board Jennifer Ringold.
Edibles and beverages, however, are being treated differently as they can be sold at concessions and considered for permit events. Think of it much like a beer garden is treated.
But why the change in policy now?
"We've been rolling to the moment where the distribution sites will be set up and there people will be able to more easily purchase the cannabis flower legally within Minnesota," she says.
Ringold says enforcement will be pretty lax.
"State law allows a jurisdiction to manage, basically the smoking and vaping of cannabis in a way that you could administer an ordinance and up to a petty misdemeanor," Ringold says. "Our board said while they want to ban smoking and vaping within the Minneapolis park system, they did not want to attach any type of a citation to it."
The park board notes that 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 goes into effect this Thursday, May 15.