County revises smoking bylaw to include cannabis, vaping and e-cigarettes

A draft smoking bylaw with consideration to federal legalization of cannabis  expected to take effect July 1 was approved to be forwarded to council during Thursday’s committee of the whole meeting.

The Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) will be enforcing the medical marijuana restrictions, while police will enforce recreational regulations. HPEPH met with County staff to help provide consistent language to prepare the updated bylaw, which will also include guidelines for vaping and electronic cigarettes.

The draft presented Thursday adds the prohibition of the use of cannabis, or non-tobacco substance which includes vaping and electronic cigarettes to the current bylaw.

Council adopted its current smoking bylaw in 2011 to prohibit smoking within 25 metres of playgrounds, playing fields, park facilities, tennis courts, outdoor rinks, youth and skate parks and within within nine metres of municipal recreational facilities, and certain public places including farmers’ markets, unenclosed workplaces, municipal benches and three metres from an identified entrance to a public building.

Enforcement is intended to be self-regulating on the ‘honour system’ for compliance with the community at large, participants and individuals providing “friendly reminders” to offenders.