With the passing of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 (SFOA, 2017), the smoking and vaping of cannabis will be regulated under the same provincial legislation that controls tobacco, banning its consumption in the same places where tobacco use is already prohibited.
In addition to cannabis use, the SFOA, 2017 also regulates the sale, supply, and promotion of tobacco and vaping products, and bans the use of vaping products in the same places where tobacco and cannabis use are also prohibited. These include workplaces, and many public spaces, including bar and restaurant patios, hospital and school property 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,” says Linda Stobo, Manager of the Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control with the Middlesex-London 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.”
Under the law, employers and owners of public spaces have an obligation to promote a smoke-free and vape-free environment. The SFOA, 2017 also prohibits the use of tobacco, cannabis and vaping products at outdoor public spaces frequented by children and youth that were not previously covered under previous provincial smoke-free legislation. This regulation includes a nine metre setback for bar and restaurant patios and a 20 metre setback from elementary and secondary school property. The regulation also prohibits smoking, vaping and cannabis use on community recreational facility grounds, including arenas, aquatic centres and gymnasiums, and includes a 20 metre setback from those properties.
The responsibility for enforcing the regulations contained within the SFOA, 2017 will be shared by officers from local police services and Tobacco Enforcement Officers from the Health Unit.
For more information go to www.smokefreeinfo.ca or to request enforcement support, contact the Health Unit’s Smoke-Free Information Line at SmokeFreeInfo@mlhu.on.ca.
Media Contact:
Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit,
519-663-5317 ext.2469 or 519-617-0570 (cell.)
Spokespeople:
Linda Stobo, Manager of Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control, Middlesex
London Health Unit