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WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />Work Session Item No. 5 <br />Date: <br />To: <br />From: <br />Re: <br />August 14, 2023 <br />City Council <br />Kyle Leibel, Deputy Public Safety Director, Police Division <br />Consideration of an ordinance prohibiting cannabis use in public <br />Background <br />With the passage of legislation which now legalizes the possession and use of limited <br />amounts of cannabis in Minnesota, there are new concerns, locally, over the use of <br />cannabis in public places and on public property. It is staff’s belief that current Lino <br />Lakes Ordinances do not adequately address the potential problems resulting from the use <br />of cannabis in public places and on public grounds. <br />Through a review of current ordinances, staff has determined that Lino Lakes ordinance <br />pertaining to tobacco (ord. 602) is specific to tobacco and does not address cannabis. <br />Additionally, the ordinance pertaining to the use of alcohol in/on public parks and <br />grounds (ord. 301.05) also fails to address the foreseeable problems with the use of <br />cannabis in such places. <br />Minnesota statutes prohibit smoking via the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act (Minn. Stat. <br />144.414), and this includes the smoking of marijuana/cannabis (Minn. Stat. 144.413, <br />Subd.4) in public places. However, this statute specifically defines public place as indoor <br />areas (Minn. Stat, 144.413, Subd. 2); it does not address outdoor public spaces. <br />Requested Council Direction <br />Staff is asking for Council direction on next steps, if Council opts to restrict or limit the <br />use of cannabis in public places and on public property throughout Lino Lakes. If <br />Council wishes to address use of cannabis in public places/on public property, staff will <br />present a proposed ordinance for consideration at the August 14, 2023 regular meeting.