San Francisco Moves to Ban Smoking and Vaping in Private Apartments
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors in California is set to ban smoking and vaping in private apartments throughout the city.
The board voted 10 to 1 in favor of an ordinance proposed by Board President Norman Yee that prohibits smoking and vaping in private residences, even if the property is rented or occupied by the owner. Initial action was taken on December 1, with the proposal undergoing a final reading and a vote scheduled for next week.
San Francisco is the first city in the U.S. to completely ban the sale of e-cigarettes. If the ban on e-cigarettes and smoking in apartments passes, the Bay Area will become one of the strictest environments for e-cigarette use in North America.
Mayor London Breed, who signed the e-cigarette sales ban into law, is prepared to sign the latest ordinance into law after the board passes it.
Yee told the San Francisco Examiner: "The problem is that smoke easily moves between units, and there’s no way to contain it. " Yee has made reasonable suggestions to protect tenants and further limit risky lifestyles to safeguard public health.
However, there is significant opposition to the proposal. For instance, the original form of the ordinance banned smoking and the use of cannabis and tobacco derivatives. However, cannabis lobbying groups strongly opposed the board. As a result, lawmakers amended the ordinance to exempt cannabis, leaving nicotine and tobacco products under the ban, which was a successful bid for them.
Other public health experts are concerned that banning e-cigarettes and smoking may undermine efforts to reduce harm for those who choose to use e-cigarettes to quit smoking. David Sweanor, a law professor at the University of Ottawa in Canada, told Inside Sources that the ordinance is "unpleasant, especially for a city known for taking a relatively enlightened approach to public health issues."
This is a developing story.
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