Tobacco & cannabis smoking ban passes first reading

UPDATE 8/28/2018 4:15 p.m.: After a month-long break, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors is back in session. One of the topics they tackled – smoking in county parks and other facilities. On Tuesday, supervisors unanimously passed the first reading of a tobacco and cannabis smoking ban in certain county areas.

Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of death and disease in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 480,000 Americans will die from cigarette use every year.

It is those kind of statistics that prompted Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo to take action against tobacco use.

His office made a referral to ban on tobacco smoking, including vaping, at all county buildings, parking lots and county parks with very limited exceptions. Alejo said it was a move that was years in the making.

“Sometimes these proposals become stuck in bureaucracy, it was time to bring it forward, time to have the full Board of Supervisors make a decision and I think the time has come for us to do this,” Alejo said. “It’s the right thing to do and I think a lot of our local residents and local visitors that come to Monterey County will really appreciate this.”

Reactions were mixed. A lot of folks at Toro Park told us they supported the ban, others wondered if it even mattered.

“I mean, I guess it could be a fire hazard but I just don’t really see how big of an impact that has on other people or the park itself,” one man told us.

Facebook users wanted to know who would even enforce the ordinance. While many parks already have rules against smoking, this proposal would formalize it.

“We’re finally trying to show some leadership and hopefully inspire other jurisdictions, other local governments that it’s time for us to do better in Monterey County.”

Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Counties are other nearby jurisdictions that have similar bans in effect.

Tuesday’s vote was the first reading of the ordinance. It will be back before supervisors with some changes in the future.

ORIGINAL POST: The Monterey County Board of Supervisors will look at establishing an ordinance prohibiting tobacco smoking, including vaping, at all county parks, buildings and parking lots.

Supervisor Luis Alejo is proposing the ban, which will be heard during Tuesday’s afternoon session.

It is recommended that the board consider suggestions by the Parks Commission regarding implementing a smoking ban at all county park facilities with certain exceptions and provide direction to staff regarding the establishment of a smoking ordinance at county parks, buildings and parking lots.

KION’s Mariana Hicks will have more on the story tonight at 5 and 6.