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Thursday, Mar. 13, 2025

Does Minnesota consider ‘bong water’ to be a controlled substance?

Deanna Pistono, MinnPost
yes

Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the psychoactive component in marijuana, does not dissolve in water on its own. Any “bong water” remaining after a bong has been used to smoke marijuana cannot induce a high, experts say. According to Dr. Melanie Bone, an OB-GYN who practices cannabis-based medicine, a person who drinks water used to filter marijuana smoke is ingesting ash, tar and bacteria from any other people who have used the bong. 

Though marijuana bong water cannot induce a high, a Minnesota Supreme Court decision in 2009 classified bong water as a controlled substance, based on a case involving methamphetamine. Meth, unlike THC, is water-soluble. 

Currently, any amount of bong water greater than 4 ounces is considered to be a controlled substance. On Feb. 27, the DFL introduced bills in the state House and Senate that would remove any amount of bong water from classification as a controlled substance.

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