It was created in 2017 with the merger of Valgjärve, Kõlleste, and Kanepi Parish.

Religion in Kanepi Parish (2021) Eesti Statistika Kanepi Abissaare - Aiaste - Erastvere - Hauka - Heisri - Hino - Hurmi - Häätaru - Ihamaru - Jõgehara - Jõksi - Kaagna - Kaagvere - Karaski - Karilatsi - Karste - Koigera - Kooli - Kooraste - Krootuse - Krüüdneri - Lauri - Maaritsa - Magari - Mügra - Närapää - Palutaja - Peetrimõisa - Piigandi - Piigaste - Pikajärve - Pikareinu - Prangli - Puugi - Põlgaste - Rebaste - Saverna - Sirvaste - Sulaoja - Sõreste - Tiido - Tuulemäe - Tõdu - Valgjärve - Varbuse - Veski - Vissi - Voorepalu The lakes Aalupi, Erastvere and Hüüdre are located in Kanepi Parish.

To see what is most popular among the people, the municipality published the seven finalist designs on a parish page where people could vote online for their favorite design.

A cannabis leaf design won the contest with an overwhelming majority of 12,000 votes, far larger than the parish population of 5,000.

[3][4] In May 2018, the city council, baffled by the ordeal, chose to vote for themselves if they wanted to officially adopt the proposed flag, with a slim majority of 9-8 voting to adopt the flag.