Peabody Set To Update Smoking Rules To Include Marijuana

PEABODY, MA -- Smoking in public spaces hasn't been completely eradicated, meaning cities and towns are looking at their smoking rules to make sure they don't inadvertently allow marijuana use in areas designated for smoking cigarettes. While Peabody does not allow any kind of smoking in most public spaces and workplaces, there are some areas where you can still legally light up, including hotels and social clubs. On February 22 Peabody will hold a hearing to rework those rules to make sure rules for those exempt areas are clarified.

"The change is to clarify that those existing exemptions apply to tobacco smoking but not marijuana smoking," Peabody health Director Sharon Cameron told the Salem News, which first reported this story.

The rule change would prohibit smoking or vaping marijuana in areas where tobacco smoking is allowed. Second hand marijuana smoke in unventilated can intoxicate nonsmokers, according to the Peabody Board of Health.

Rahul Patel, manager of the Plaza Inn on Route 1 told the newspaper he has not received complaints from guests staying in the 10 rooms designated as smoking rooms at the motel.

"People aren't complaining. No one is saying, 'Oh, people are smoking marijuana in the rooms,' or anything like that right now," he said. "There are no complaints from customers for right now, but if there will be any in the future, I'm not sure about that."

For more on this story, see the Salem News. Subscribe to Peabody Patch for more local news and real-time alerts.

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Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).