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Council committee advances ordinance to set $25 minimum price for e‑cigarettes, add school buffers and remove downtown exemption
Summary
The committee approved amendments to the Minneapolis commercial‑tobacco code to set a $25 minimum price for electronic delivery devices, add spacing requirements from K–12 schools and require larger zoning parcels for new tobacco dealers; changes to location rules take effect Aug. 1, 2025.
The Business, Housing and Zoning Committee on June 24 advanced an amendment to Minneapolis’ commercial‑tobacco ordinance that would set a $25 minimum price for e‑cigarettes and change where new tobacco retailers may locate.
Evelyn Carberry, senior public health specialist, and Max Cervantes, district supervisor for Business Licensing, presented the proposal. Carberry framed the public‑health rationale, citing vaping prevalence among young adults and high school students and research linking higher prices to reduced tobacco use. “Keeping the cost of commercial tobacco products high is one of the most effective tools to decrease their use,” she said.
Cervantes outlined the licensing and zoning changes: establishing a $25 minimum price per electronic delivery device; removing the downtown exemption so new exclusive tobacco dealers anywhere in the city must be at least 2,000 feet from existing exclusive dealers (previously downtown had an exemption); adding a 300‑foot buffer from K–12 schools for new tobacco dealers; and requiring new tobacco dealer sites to be on property zoned CM3 or higher with at least three contiguous acres. Cervantes said the minimum pricing would be effective immediately on passage and the location rules would take effect Aug. 1, 2025.
More than a dozen public speakers — including faith and community leaders, public‑health advocates, and nonprofit representatives — supported the ordinance, citing youth vaping, addiction and community health equity. “Nicotine is nicotine whether it comes from a vape, a cigar or cigarette,” Damon Presley of Twin Cities Recovery Project said. Imam Hassan Mohammed and representatives from local public‑health groups urged action to protect young people and communities of color.
Business owners raised concerns about unintended consequences. Angie Griffith, co‑owner of Smokeless, and Jesse Griffith of Happy Thoughts Manufacturing warned the ordinance’s statutory definition of “electronic delivery device” could capture components and non‑tobacco products (for example, parts used in hemp or cannabis devices), raising prices on refillable open systems and components used to taper nicotine. Griffith asked the council to revise language so replacement parts and non‑tobacco device components are not unintentionally covered.
Council Member Chris Cashman, the item author, said the changes will close gaps left by prior policy and remove the downtown exemption. Council Member Andrea Jenkins asked staff for analysis of how many potential new locations would be affected by the 300‑foot school buffer. Staff said licensed tobacco dealers will be notified and that enforcement follows existing inspection and complaint procedures; in 2024 the city conducted 251 youth tobacco inspections and issued 23 citations.
The committee voted to approve the ordinance amendment. Staff and council members acknowledged they will continue to review technical language to address business concerns about components and cannabis or hemp‑related items.
