Vaping, Marijuana Ban Considered For San Ramon's Public Spaces

SAN RAMON, CA — The city of San Ramon is considering expanding its current prohibitions on smoking in public places to include vaping and marijuana.

During its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, the San Ramon City Council will publicly discuss amending its definition of “smoking” to read, "'Smoking' means inhaling or exhaling smoke from, or carrying, any lighted, heated, burning, or ignited smoke delivery system."

If adopted by city council, San Ramon's current ordinance that bans tobacco smoking in public places would include the new prohibitions.

"The city of San Ramon has a compelling interest in enacting this chapter to restrict smoking
in public places to protect those who live, work and play in San Ramon from the risks of
secondhand smoke and vapor," according to city documents.

City staffers also intend to bring a new ordinance — prohibitions on sales of vaping products — to city council at a later date, according to city documents.

"New developments seem to occur daily, and state and federal agencies are beginning to take steps to further regulate nicotine and vaping products, so staff will continue to do public outreach before bringing the second proposed ordinance ... ," the documents read.

Tuesday's discussion comes on the heels of a Nov. 8 news announcement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that points to a link between Vitamin E acetate that's used as an additive in the production of e-cigarette — or vaping — products and patients with certain lung injuries thought to be caused by vaping.

The San Ramon City Council Nov. 12 regular meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the City Hall council chambers, 7000 Bollinger Canyon Road.