Brown County Chemical Health Action Team: Increasing the Awareness of Addiction and Misuse of Legal Substances
Cannabis in Minnesota: What Parents Should Know
In 2023, Minnesota legalized non-medical cannabis for adults age 21 and older. As dispensaries begin opening across the state in 2025, now is a critical time for parents and caregivers to talk with their teens about cannabis use. While legal for adults, cannabis remains illegal for youth — and its effects on the developing brain can be significant.
Teens today are navigating a world where cannabis is more visible and socially accepted than ever before. Open, honest conversations can help them make informed, healthy choices. You don’t need to be an expert — just a trusted adult willing to listen and guide.
The buttons to the right feature resources to support your conversations, including local and statewide tools, facts about cannabis and youth brain development, and tips for prevention and support.
Let’s talk. Their future starts with your voice.
Resources for Parents
For printed copies of any of these resources, please contact the Heart of New Ulm.
These resources were created by the Collaborative for Rural Public Health Innovation and made possible by a grant from the Cannabis & Substance Use Prevention program of the Minnesota Department of Health’s Health Improvement Bureau.
About the Brown County Chemical Health Action Team (CHAT)
The Brown County Chemical Health Action Team (CHAT) goal is to support educational programs, activities and policies that increase awareness of addiction and misuse of legal substances, and also address the use of illegal substances. The team also works to promote sober activities, create social activities that do not involve the use of substances, and promote a responsible drinking campaign.
CHAT is comprised of representatives from Brown County Family Services, New Ulm Medical Center, Sleepy Eye Medical Center, police departments, area schools, probation, Brown County Public Health and community members. The action team was formed in June 2020 and grew out of the desire to continue a county-wide coalition to deal with substance abuse after the Brown County Underage Substance Abuse Coalition (USAC) disbanded in the fall of 2019. Brown County Public Health and the Heart of New Ulm share coordination and facilitation of CHAT, which focuses on chemical prevention for all ages, countywide.
CHAT Priorities and Recent Accomplishments
Social Host Ordinance Approved by Brown County Commissioners
In May 2025, in an effort to discourage underage possession and consumption of alcohol, marijuana and other controlled substances, Brown County commissioners unanimously approved a social host ordinance (SHO). Read more in the Journal.
Studies indicate that social host laws are among the most effective and recommended ways to reduce underage drinking.
Underage drinking often takes place in social settings (at home or parties). Social host ordinances help reduce underage access to alcohol. They provide another tool for law enforcement to use in keeping our neighborhoods and youth safe. Ordinances encourage a consistent message to young people, from all caring adults in the community, about the importance of choosing not to drink alcohol before age 21.
A social host ordinance makes it unlawful for individuals (social hosts) to provide a place for underage drinking to occur on a premises under the host’s control. The host is held responsible regardless of who provided the alcohol. An ordinance violation is a misdemeanor offense with a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.
Local Billboards
In 2024, the team created a billboard to highlight the message that dangerous consequences can result when adults provide alcohol to youth under age 18. The billboards were installed in Springfield in October and near Essig in November.
The team previously created billboards in 2023 and 2022 to promote promote responsible locked storage of cannabis at home and responsible drinking.
Resources for the Community
Over the last several years, the team has developed a number of resources for the community, including:
- Vaping: Know the Risks - After reviewing Minnesota Student Survey data and talking with students, it was evident to the team that this is a very prevalent problem for local youth.
- Safe Drinking Strategies flyer
- Drug and Alcohol Statistics sheet
- Brown County Addiction Resources and list of local AA/NA meetings
- Winter Sober Activities flyer
- Radio spots focused on DWI prevention
Red Ribbon Week
Every year, the team promotes Red Ribbon Week during the last week of October. In 2024, the team sponsored a drawing contest open to all Brown County youth ages 18 and under. Red Ribbon Week is the oldest and largest drug-use prevention campaign in the nation focused on keeping kids drug free.
Opioid Prevention and Harm Reduction
In 2023, the team participated in the Minnesota’s State Opioid Response funding meeting and started researching additional prevention and harm reduction ideas to implement locally.
Do You or Someone You Know Need Help?
Chemical Health Resources
It is never easy to overcome substance abuse and addiction on your own. However, you can get help from support groups and meetings, which could provide you with a safe environment as you recover from your addiction.
Brown County maintains a schedule of AA and NA meetings that can be found in the Brown County area on their website.
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