With cannabis set to become legal in Canada, New Westminster is calling on the province to harmonize smoking regulations across the province.
A staff report to council notes that current smoking regulations regarding tobacco vary throughout the region and are confusing. When discussing issues such as health hazards from second-hand smoke and odors from cannabis, council directed staff to provide a resolution aimed at improving consistency regarding public consumption throughout B.C. and ensuring any future regulations regarding public consumption of cannabis are aligned with tobacco smoking regulations.
On Monday, council approved a recommendation calling on the Union of B.C. Municipalities to ask the province to harmonize smoking regulations throughout B.C. and ensuring the Tobacco and Vapour Control Regulations and the Cannabis Control and Licensing Regulations are consistent. The city will forward the resolution to the UBCM so it can be considered at its annual general meeting in September.
The Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act and Regulations, which governs tobacco and vapour products in B.C., prohibit smoking inside public buildings or workplaces and within six metres of intake areas to buildings, such as windows and doors, but local governments are able to impose more stringent restrictions than those introduced by the province.
“The effect is a patchwork of regulations across the province that is confusing for both residents and visitors,” said a staff report.
While some Metro Vancouver municipalities have banned smoking in public parks, New Westminster prohibits smoking within 15 metres of portions of parks where people assemble, such as sports fields, skate parks, playgrounds, lacrosse boxes, picnic areas, off-leash dog areas and pools. Cities in the region also have different rules regarding the distance that smokers must be from intake areas to buildings.
In related news, staff will report back to council on July 11 on a variety of issues related to the upcoming legalization of cannabis. The city has been seeking public input on a proposed municipal regulatory framework for cannabis, as several areas fall within municipal jurisdiction, including zoning and licensing requirements for cannabis shops and regulation of public consumption through smoking control bylaws.
