The Minnesota State Legislature legalized cannabis, but that does not mean we should stand by as it harms our children. The Minneapolis City Council can fix what the State failed to address. The State Senate and House dropped the ball by prioritizing tax revenues over youth safeguards. Now is the time for parents to urge the City Council to act.
As someone who fled the brutal civil war in Somalia, I know what it means to live in fear. I grew up surrounded by bullets, bombs and chaos. Every day was survival. Escaping to the U.S. gave me hope for safety, but I encountered a different destruction that still haunts me. A story about a young Somali man I met in a shelter still lingers. He was paralyzed after being shot while high, and his addiction had confined him to a wheelchair. The most heartbreaking part was that his addiction had numbed his senses, leaving him unable to feel the severe, life-threatening wounds that were slowly draining his life away. It was a tragic reminder of how addiction can destroy a person’s future.
In North Minneapolis, particularly in the Camden Community, children are falling victim to substance abuse. Our children are not only being destroyed by violence, but by drugs readily available in their communities. Cannabis is sold in neighborhood tobacco shops, and criminals compete to sell marijuana to kids. The statistics from the 2022 Minnesota Student Survey are alarming: 22% of 11th graders reported using marijuana in the past 30 days, and even 5% of 8th graders experimented with marijuana.
Some argue that legalizing cannabis could bring economic benefits, but the long-term costs of addiction and mental health struggles far outweigh the quick revenue from sales. The Minneapolis City Council has the power to limit this spread. They may also improve law enforcement, ensuring that no cannabis is supplied to minors and restricting public cannabis usage in settings where children gather, such as parks and playgrounds.
Cannabis can be helpful for health reasons, but it should be handled like a controlled substance—not freely available in places where children can easily access it. Hennepin County already sees the impact of early cannabis use, with rising addiction rates and increased behavioral issues in schools. We cannot afford to wait any longer.
Do we want to see our children, who once had bright futures, reduced to hopelessness? Mothers and fathers—this is our reality, and we must stop it before it is too late. To protect our children from cannabis risks, we need parents to unite and advocate for limiting sales locations and reducing casual access for young people. A public education campaign on the risks of cannabis should be launched for parents and communities. To protect our children, the City must also enforce strong regulations against illegal cannabis sales.
It is time for us to step up. Join mothers and fathers in contacting your City Council, signing petitions, and attending local meetings. We must work together to protect our children from addiction. The way we safeguard our children determines the destiny of our community. We can make a significant impact when we work together.
Wahab Abby,
Lind Bohanon