Recreational cannabis is now legal in Minnesota, but the rules change the moment you step into a vehicle.

Just like alcohol, there is a strict “Open Package Law” for cannabis in cars, and violating it is one of the easiest ways to turn a routine traffic stop into a criminal misdemeanor.

Under MN Statute 169A.36, it is illegal to have cannabis flower, edibles or vape products in a motor vehicle on a street or highway if the packaging is open, the seal is broken or some of the contents have been removed. Using cannabis in a vehicle on a street or highway is a separate misdemeanor.

The ”Glove Box” Mistake

Many drivers mistakenly believe that putting an opened bag of gummies or a vape pen in the glove compartment or center console is safe. It is not.

The law says a glove compartment or utility compartment is part of the area occupied by the driver and passengers. If an officer sees an open cannabis product in your cupholder during a traffic stop, you can be cited for a misdemeanor, even if you are completely sober.

Where Can You Legally Store It?

If the seal on your cannabis product is broken, the only legal place to store it in a sedan or coupe is in the trunk.

For SUVs, hatchbacks or trucks without a trunk, an opened product must be kept in an area of the vehicle not normally occupied by the driver and passengers, such as a rear cargo area.

The Impairment Issue

An “Open Package” citation is often just the beginning. By state law, the smell of cannabis cannot be the only reason to search a vehicle, its driver, its passengers or what is inside it.

Unlike alcohol, Minnesota has no legal “limit” for THC concentration in the blood. Instead, law enforcement relies on specialized officers called Drug Recognition Evaluators (DREs).

A DRE will conduct a 12-step evaluation, checking your pulse, eye movements, and muscle tone to determine if you are impaired. Their expert testimony can be enough to secure a DWI conviction, even without a blood test result.

The Bottom Line: Treat cannabis exactly like an open bottle of whiskey. If the seal is cracked, put it in the trunk before you turn the key.