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Minneapolis council votes to decriminalize possession of drug paraphernalia, after heated debate
Summary
By 7–6 on April 23, the Minneapolis City Council adopted an ordinance to decriminalize possession of drug paraphernalia, aligning local code with Minnesota state law and advancing a harm‑reduction approach despite objections from some members citing public‑safety and transit policing concerns.
The Minneapolis City Council on April 23 adopted an ordinance to decriminalize possession of drug paraphernalia, a measure proponents called a public‑health step to reduce disease transmission and improve outreach to people who use drugs.
Council Member Chavez, the ordinance sponsor, framed the measure as aligning city code with Minnesota state law and as a tool to allow harm‑reduction workers to operate without fear of criminal penalties. "Drug use is a public health issue, and decriminalizing the possession of drug paraphernalia is a practical step towards treating it as such," she said while moving the ordinance.
The chamber heard two sharply distinct lines of argument. Opponents, including Council Member Shaffer, cited testimony from the city deputy attorney and Metro Transit police that removing paraphernalia charges could reduce investigative options, limit the ability to pursue evidence of sale or intent and constrain responses to public drug use at transit stops. Shaffer quoted the city attorney’s on‑record advice that in certain circumstances paraphernalia charges have been part of the evidentiary chain used in broader prosecutions.
Supporters, such as Council Members Stevenson and Wonsley, described frontline outreach experience and argued the ordinance would improve health outcomes and open pathways to treatment by enabling trusted relationships between outreach workers and people on the street. Stevenson said decriminalization can help move people from public use into services.
Council Member Whiting offered a narrower amendment to carve out marijuana paraphernalia from the decriminalization; the amendment failed 6–7. After additional debate and a vote on the full ordinance, the council approved the decriminalization measure 7–6.
Roll call recorded yes votes from Chowdhury, Stevenson, Chavez, Wonsley, Chughtai, Whiting and President Payne; no votes included Rainville, Vetaw, Palmisano, Warren and Shaffer, with Vice President Osman voting no on one amendment and no on the final question as recorded.
The ordinance changes local code to remove criminal penalties for possession of paraphernalia and is intended by supporters to increase public‑health outreach opportunities and reduce infectious‑disease risk. Opponents said the council should weigh transit safety and enforcement implications and work with agencies such as Metro Transit and the city attorney to mitigate potential enforcement gaps.
Next steps: With passage, city legal staff and relevant departments will implement the ordinance and coordinate with harm‑reduction providers; members asked for tracking of public‑safety outcomes and continued communication with transit and law‑enforcement partners.
