MINNEAPOLIS, MN — A new policy has the Minneapolis parks joining nearly 30 other metro area park systems in prohibiting the use of all tobacco products on Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board lands and in Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board owned and/or operated facilities. The Park Board's previous Smoking/Tobacco Use Policy, approved in 2009, did not address the use of chewing tobacco or electronic cigarettes (e-cigs). The new tobacco policy expands to address both of these uses as well.

The new policy also honors traditional Native American spiritual or cultural ceremonies. The new policy defines "tobacco product" as any product that is made from or derived from tobacco, or that contains nicotine, that is intended for human consumption or is likely to be consumed.

This includes cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, snuff, electronic delivery devices and any component or accessory used in the consumption of a tobacco product, such as filters, rolling papers, pipes, and substances used in electronic delivery devices, whether or not they contain nicotine. The policy does not include use of tobacco for a traditional Native American spiritual or cultural ceremony if approved by the MPRB, according to a news release.