New Categories Added to San Mateo's Secondhand Smoke Ordinance

By Bay City News Service:

San Mateo police alerted the public on Monday that an ordinance meant to curb secondhand smoke exposure from cigarettes has been updated to include e-cigarettes and medical marijuana as well.

San Mateo’s City Council established the ordinance update, which went into effect on Nov. 5, to protect the public from being exposed to “unwanted second-hand smoke in public places,” police said.

That means smoking both traditional tobacco products and the added categories of smoking is now prohibited inside any multi-unit residence, within 40 feet of those residences or in any enclosed or unenclosed common area of the residences, police said.

The ordinance also prohibits smoking in and around city buildings, parks and other unenclosed public spaces.

Police said the move responds to information that indicates e-cigarettes “are not a safer alternative to cigarettes, and are a gateway to teen smoking.”

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