Officials with the Middlesex London Health Unit will be spending the next few weeks educating the public on where they can and can't smoke and vape marijuana.
Under the updated Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 cannabis use is banned in the same places where tobacco use is prohibited. That means it is illegal to consume marijuana in the workplace and many public spaces, including bars and restaurant patios, hospital and school properties, and within 20 metres of playgrounds and sports fields.
“The health unit will be reaching out to local employers, municipal partners, and community stakeholders over the next few weeks to inform them about the new smoking and vaping restrictions,” said Linda Stobo, manager of the chronic disease prevention and tobacco control at the health unit. “We are committed to supporting the community as we adjust to this new legislation; that includes providing signage, policy development support and the implementation of an education campaign later this fall.”
The provincial legislation requires employers and owners of public spaces to promote a smoke-free and vape-free environment. Anyone partaking in cannabis or tobacco use has to be nine metres away from bars and restaurant patios and 20 metres away from schools, arenas, aquatic centres, and gymnasiums.
Police and health unit tobacco enforcement officers are tasked with enforcing the regulations.
Recreation marijuana became legal across Canada on Wednesday.
