The Clean Air Bylaw was drafted in response to a request from the Canadian Cancer Society (in October 2016) for Council’s endorsement of their recommendation to the BC government regarding outdoor smoking and vaping in public places and the legalization of cannabis in October 2018.
Clean Air Bylaw 1229, 2018 which governs where tobacco and cannabis smoking and vaping will be allowed in Sparwood received first and second readings at the September 4, 2018 regular meeting of Council.
It's important to keep in mind that cannabis use, like tobacco, has short and long-term health effects. While cannabis may make you feel relaxed and happy, it can produce short-term effects on your brain that cause confusion; sleepiness (fatigue); and impair your ability to remember, concentrate, pay attention, or react quickly. It can also result in anxiety, fear, paranoia, delusions and hallucinations. The potential long-term effects of cannabis on your brain can include an increased risk of addiction and harm your memory, concentration, intelligence, and ability to think and make decisions, as well as include risks to lung health like smoking tobacco.
To improve the health of British Columbians and reduce the rate of chronic illness caused by smoking and tobacco use, government of B.C. in partnership with regional health authorities, the Ministry of Finance, BC Lung Association, BC Pharmacare, WorkSafeBC, Health Canada’s Tobacco Control Programme, and other non-governmental organizations delivered B.C.’s Tobacco Control Strategy. The purpose of the strategy is to address the health and economic problems due to tobacco use through three key objectives: (1) stop youth and young adults from starting to use tobacco; (2) encourage and assist tobacco users to quit or reduce their use of tobacco products, focusing on the three groups with the highest rates of tobacco use; and (3) protect British Columbians, particularly infants and children, from exposure to second-hand smoke.
A short survey poll has been created to get input from the community on smoking and vaping in public places. The poll will remain open until 9am on Monday, September 24, 2018.
Click here to begin the survey.
![]() | 136 Spruce Avenue Box 520 Sparwood British Columbia V0B 2G0 |
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