Adult-use cannabis

Minnetonka city staff researched and collected community feedback regarding an ordinance limiting cannabis use in public places. Input was received in three ways: outreach to tobacco retailers in the city, pop-up events, and an online survey hosted by Minnetonka Matters.

• Tobacco Retailers: There are 27 retailers in the city that sell tobacco products. These retailers were invited to complete a survey (identical to the online survey) about where cannabis should be allowed to be used.
  • One retailer responded and provided feedback that the city should prohibit smoking or vaping of cannabis (edibles allowed) at bus/transit stops and at city properties/facilities. The retailer did not support restricting use on sidewalks, parks or trails.
• Pop-up events: There were five pop-up events. The pop-up events asked questions about the locations where the city should or should not allow cannabis use.
  • Staff or the information boards were present at the joint Park Board and City Council meeting (Sept. 6, 2023); Farmer’s Market (Sept. 26, 2023); Williston Center (Oct. 5-10, 2023); The Marsh (October 5-10, 2023) City-Wide Open House (Oct. 10, 2023).
  • The most input was received at Williston, followed by the City-Wide Open House.
    • Overall, 693 dots were placed in the location categories that would not allow the use of cannabis in any form.
    • There were 438 dots in the location categories for prohibiting the smoking of cannabis but allowing edibles to be consumed.
    • There were 215 dots that supported no restrictions.
• Online Survey:The online survey was available from Sept. 29 until Oct. 31, 2023.
  • There were 930 responses provided for the survey.
  • The demographics from the survey respondents indicated 88% were Minnetonka residents.
  • The respondents included a fairly even cross-section of age (slightly higher in the 65 and older category); 85% of the respondents identified as white, and slightly more females answered the survey than males (.6% identified as non-binary/other).
  • Depending on the public location identified, the majority (76-89%) of respondents did not support smoking or vaping cannabis.
  • A little less than half of those same respondents were supportive of allowing the consumption of edibles.
  • When asked about private property with public access, respondents were more mixed, changing the respondents’ view for no restrictions to about 40%.
  • Many of the respondents were concerned about secondhand smoke and the use of cannabis in front of minors.
  • There was also concern for access to cannabis by youth and the smell of cannabis smoke.

See attached survey results for more detailed information and open-ended comments provided.

Feedback was provided through an online survey and at community events in the fall of 2023. City staff is currently preparing an overview of the results along with information on the impact of the new law. The city council is scheduled to receive the staff report at a study session in February.