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October, 2017:

Public smoking in Santa Monica

Yuri was visiting Santa Monica recently and took a stroll down the Third Street Promenade. He paused for a moment to light up a cigarette, and exhaled a plume of smoke.

http://smdp.com/public-smoking-in-santa-monica/162863

Yuri was startled when another pedestrian tapped him on the shoulder and pointed at a nearby “No Smoking” sign.

He hastily put out his cigarette and carried the butt to a nearby trash can.

Yuri was surprised that he couldn’t smoke outside, but he wanted to obey the law and avoid bothering other visitors.
Yuri had just gotten a crash course in Santa Monica’s smoking law.

Santa Monica has long been on the forefront of protecting residents and visitors from secondhand smoke. Twenty years ago it was the first city to prosecute bars for allowing patrons to smoke.

Now, both smoking and vaping (e-cigarettes) are prohibited not only on the Third Street Promenade, but in most public places:

parks

beaches

the Santa Monica Pier

outdoor dining areas

farmer’s markets

Outdoor Service Areas (bus stops, ATMs, and anywhere else people wait for services)

It’s also unlawful to smoke or vape within 20 feet of doors or open windows of buildings that are open to the public. (This includes all businesses and basically all places other than private residences.)

Smoking in these public areas is a criminal infraction, punishable by a $100 base fine plus penalties for the first offense; $200 base fine for the second offense within one year; and $500 base fine for all subsequent violations within one year.

Santa Monica also prohibits smoking in common areas of all multi-unit housing (both apartments and condos), and inside units for all residents who moved in after November 22, 2012.

While marijuana is now legal in California, it’s still unlawful to smoke it in public, or anywhere else that tobacco is prohibited.

Smoking marijuana in public is punishable by a $100 base fine, or a $250 base fine if it’s a place where tobacco smoking is forbidden.

There are additional penalties for smoking pot within 1,000 feet of schools, daycare centers and youth centers while children are present, unless it’s in a private residence.

So where is it OK to smoke? There are still plenty of areas where smoking is allowed. These include sidewalks and other public places where it isn’t expressly prohibited – so long as it’s not within 20 feet of doors or open windows.

It’s also allowed in single-family homes, and inside apartments or condos that were occupied before November 22, 2012 (unless the unit was designated as non-smoking).

If you have questions or need information about smoking laws in Santa Monica, please call the City Attorney’s Office at (310) 458-8336 or visit smconsumer.org.

The Consumer Protection Division of the City Attorney’s Office enforces the law and educates the public about tenants’ rights, fair housing, consumer protection and other issues. They can be reached at 310-458-8336 or smconsumer.org.

Ban on vaping proposed

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Wellcome statement: corporate event hire cancellation

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Have your say on smoke-free places

WE’RE urging Queenslanders to speak out and have their say about smoke-free places across the state to help shape the future of tobacco control in Queensland.

https://www.qt.com.au/news/have-your-say-on-smoke-free-places/3232462/

Cancer Council Queensland, Heart Foundation and Asthma Foundation have launched a statewide survey on smoking, giving Queenslanders the opportunity to share their opinion about current and future smoke-free places.

The survey will gauge support on current tobacco laws and identify additional areas the community would like to see smoke-free, including outdoor public areas and multi-unit housing.

Tobacco is having a detrimental effect on the health of our state. Those who smoke or are exposed to second-hand smoke are at a much greater risk of developing chronic diseases, including heart disease and cancers.

Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Australia. In Queensland alone around 3700 people die from a tobacco-related disease each year.

This survey will give the public a voice to help advocate for stronger tobacco legislation reforms through the extension of statewide smoke-free places in Queensland.

Will you share your views? Have your say to help clear the air for thousands of Queenslanders impacted by second-hand smoke.

If you’re a Queenslander aged 18 and over, please complete our Smoke-free Places Survey at smokefreeplacessurvey by October 16.

All responses are anonymous and confidential.

Ms Chris McMillan

CEO, Cancer Council Queensland

Global tobacco giant Philip Morris commits to a ‘smoke-free’ future in Australia

TOBACCO giant Philip Morris will on Thursday commit to a “smoke-free” Australia in a push to legalise reduced-risk alternatives to replace cigarettes.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/global-tobacco-giant-philip-morris-commits-to-a-smokefree-future-in-australia/news-story/110c8a659e56980e5b6aa16c9c9fe19c

The company will tell a federal parliamentary inquiry on electronic cigarettes that technology has rapidly transformed its business away from cigarettes in favour of smoke-free alternatives.

E-cigarettes containing nicotine are not regulated as therapeutic goods in Australia and cannot be legally imported for personal use.

Australian medicines regulator the Therapeutic Goods Administration does not support the use of electronic cigarettes.

Philip Morris scientific affairs fellow Maurice Smith said every level of the global company was committed to “transitioning away” from cigarettes “as soon as possible” — a process it has already begun in 30 countries.

Mr Smith will tell the hearing in Melbourne that more than three million smokers worldwide — and more than 8000 smokers a day — had switched to Philip Morris’s IQOS, which heats tobacco rather than burning it.

He said the rapid consumer acceptance had made it possible for cigarette smoking to become obsolete.

The product has already captured 10 per cent of its worldwide market.

“Ironically, although many share our vision of a smoke-free Australia, the law in Australia, unique in the world, requires that all tobacco products must be smoked,” Mr Smith said.

While the Council of Australia has conceded e-cigarettes are “probably less harmful to health” than traditional cigarettes, it says and the short- and long-term health effects are not yet known.

It says claims e-cigarettes can help people quit smoking are “unsubstantiated” and unfair to consumers.

Chairman of the parliamentary Standing Committee for Health, Aged Care and Sport Trent Zimmerman, said it was important for politicians to query the implications of the growing body of research on the health impacts of e-cigarettes.

Phillip Morris has pledged $US80 million a year until 2030 to develop alternative measures to reduce the harm caused by smoking.

The research is headed by former World Health Organisation cabinet director, Dr Derek Yach.

rob.harris@news.com.au

Health Minister met with British-American Tobacco reps, lobbyists

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Malawi’s tobacco farmers backing off from gold leaf

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New Tobacco Legislation in Slovenia

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USA v PHILIP MORRIS, Remand SECOND SUPERSEDING CONSENT ORDER

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19,000 tickets issued last year for smoking at prohibited areas

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