Halifax Regional Council has voted in favour of new bylaws regulating smoking in public areas, and they're not just for cannabis.
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In anticipation of cannabis legalisation, my city’s crackpot team of councillors decided to further the municipal smoking ban by declaring that smoking (tobacco and pot) and vaping (liquid nicotine, no tobacco) in public areas that are not designated for such activities will result in fines.
This infuriates me. First, vaping isn’t a combustible activity. The fact that the government (in general) continues to punish vapers makes me crazy. It’s not the same thing! I do understand that non-vapers don’t want “sick clouds, bro” blown in their faces---I try to use lower-wattage devices so I don’t cause a nuisance on the street---but it’s not the same thing. There’s little-to-no second-hand vape effect. It is 95% safer than smoking. Not the same thing!
But, beyond that, I’m worried and bothered. The news articles claim that there will be “smoking permitted” signs in areas around the city. If the council wanted to be more evil than they already are, they could assign a minimal amount of areas, in inconvenient locations. There’s no way to guarantee that they’ll be placed in safe, well-lit areas, either. Smokers and vapers who work full-time are going to have a hard time trekking to designated zones. Smokers and vapers out at night could be risking their personal safety.
And now, back to vaping. I switched to vaping for harm reduction, as did many other vapers. With these bylaws, now I have to cram myself into a space that is populated with smokers. Unless I’m out with friends who smoke, I don’t hang around people while they smoke. If I’m outside vaping and someone stops near me and lights up, I inch away. If I’m outside vaping and someone is smoking pot, I move faster. Not because I hate pot---I don’t---but because if I’m outside while downtown, it’s usually because I’m taking a break from work and I really don’t want to smell like pot when I come back to the office. With these bylaws, assuming I can get to a designated area in enough time, I won’t be able to avoid those irritations and problems.
I haven’t even hit on topics like what will happen to non-property owners who smoke or vape, or the fact that the government is punishing and profiting at the same time. Or the fact that this city has serious problems and THIS is what they choose to focus on. I am so steamed about this council decision, I don’t know what part makes me madder.