San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors voted 10-1 to ban smoking in many private homes unless it’s marijuana.

The new ordinance makes it illegal to smoke tobacco in an apartment building with three or more units, which covers many city residents. 

The ban, however, makes an explicit exception for smoking medical marijuana.

“After starting this in January, I’m happy to report @sfbos passed my Smoke-free Multi-Unit Housing Legislation tonight, with a cannabis exemption,” Supervisor Norman Yee, the bill’s sponsor, tweeted. “Secondhand smoke causes harm & everyone should have clean air to breathe where they live. Thanks to my colleagues for their support!”

Smoking is already illegal in common areas of apartment buildings but the new ban outlaws smoking in private apartment homes, even if the owner has no objection.

The stated purpose of the bill is to protect residents from second-hand smoke. While marijuana does have medically-recognized uses, it also contains many of the same carcinogens as tobacco and appears to pose the same secondhand risks. The risks of secondhand smoke from someone in a different apartment appear to have not been medically established through significant scientific testing.

It is still legal in San Francisco to defecate in public, despite the long-documented threat to public health

People who smoke in their home, but not marijuana, would face a $1,000 fine. ABC News reports 63 other California cities and counties have a similar smoking-but-not-marijuana ban.

The bill will receive a second vote before going to San Francisco Mayor London Breed for her signature. It would then become law in 30 days.

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AmericanActionNews.com.




Michael Brigham has written for American Action News since the summer of 2019. His areas of expertise include foreign affairs, government, and politics, but regardless of the subject matter, he has a nose and an insatiable appetite for news. In his free time, he enjoys reading nonfiction, watching a mix of comedies and true crime documentaries, and spending time away from the swamp hiking in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.

Comments

  1. THESE PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA ARE THEY REALLY CRAZY OR JUST SICK IN THE HEAD.
    HOW LONG ARE THE PEOPLE GOING TO ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT TO RULE THEIR LIVES.
    DO THEY NOT KNOW HOW TO FIGHT BACK OR ARE THEY JUST A BUNCH OF BRAINLESS DUMMIES? MY GOD PEOPLE STAND UP AND FIGHT BACK.

    1. I think all Americans need to stand up and fight. I live in Texas. I will never submit to another shutdown. Luckily, our Governor is not like Newsom.

    2. We get what we vote into office. We vote for party, not person. Candidates lie to us to get into office and then do their dirty work. We are incredibly stupid for not doing in-depth research on candidates. .

    3. AND NOW LET THE DICATORSHIP BEGIN. PEOPLE YOU SHOULD HAVE LISTENED TO WHAT YOU WERE BEING TOLD ABOUT THE DEMOCRATS ANYONE THAT WANTS TO DEFUND THE POLICE FORCE AND THE MILITARY ARE UP TO NO GOOD. THINGS WILL BE CHANGING VERY SOON AND YOU WILL SEE WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT.

  2. Stop me, mfkr. The town is a cesspool and you are worried about someone smoking in their own homes? Deranged and terminally stupid.

  3. Norman ee is as crazy as a bed bug. He says that people need clean air to breathe. I agree, however, air with marijuana smoke is NOT CLEAN and is certainly NOT HEALTHY! This is one law that I deem to be in violation of the Constitution of the U.S.A. and most probably violates the California Constitution!. If I wanted to smoke tobacco products in my apartment or in my privately owned condominium or free-standing single-family living unit I will smoke tobacco products or anything else that I want to smoke. I do not care what the city council or county commissioners say or think about it! They can go play in the heavy rush hour traffic!

  4. The second hand smoke issue was the FIRST official attack on OUR collective individual rights and the doctrine of “free will”…

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