Officials in San Francisco have banned all tobacco smoking inside apartments, citing concerns about secondhand smoke. Don't worry though the ban only includes tobacco products, smoking pot in your home is still allowed.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the Board of Supervisors voted 10-1 Tuesday to approve the ordinance making San Francisco the largest city in the country to ban tobacco smoking inside apartments.
Apparently, the reason marijuana smoking isn't banned is that such a ban would not provide any space for people to actually legally smoke pot, as it's still illegal under state law to smoke pot in public places. (lolol)
Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, who wrote the amendment to exempt cannabis, said:
"Unlike tobacco smokers who could still leave their apartments to step out to the curb or smoke in other permitted outdoor smoking areas, cannabis users would have no such legal alternatives."
Under the ordinance, the department must first try to educate violators and help smokers quit. Repeat offenders could be fined $1,000 a day but can not be evicted for a smoking violation. The ordinance must pass a second vote next week and the mayor must sign it. If it does pass, San Francisco will join 63 other cities in California to place this ban.
Quick NTB Fact Check: Studies have determined that marijuana secondhand smoke is actually more damaging than tobacco second-hand smoke.
