California city is latest to ban residents from smoking in their own apartments

Karah Rucker

THE FIRST CITY IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY IS NOW BANNING SMOKING AND VAPING, BOTH CANNABIS AND NICOTINE PRODUCTS, WITHIN ALL MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS. 

THIS NEW ORDINANCE IN THE BEACH CITY OF CARLSBAD COVERS APARTMENTS, CONDOS, AND TOWNHOMES.

THIS CALIFORNIA CITY ISN’T THE FIRST TO IMPLEMENT THIS NO SMOKING MANDATE.

AT LEAST 84 OTHER CALIFORNIA CITIES –INCLUDING BEVERLY HILLS, CULVER CITY, MANHATTAN BEACH, AND PASADENA –

HAVE ALSO IMPOSED RESTRICTIONS ON SMOKING WITHIN MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENCES.

UNDER THE NEW LAW, RESIDENTS ARE NOT ONLY PROHIBITED FROM SMOKING INSIDE THEIR APARTMENTS AND CONDOS –

BUT IT’S ALSO NOT ALLOWED ON PRIVATE BALCONIES, PORCHES, DECKS, PATIOS, AND ANY COMMON AREAS THAT AREN’T SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED FOR SMOKING. 

WHILE THIS LAW IMPACTS ANY “MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL” DWELLINGS –

THIS LAW DOES NOT EXTEND TO SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.

THE DECISION HAS SPARKED A MIX OF REACTIONS. 

SOME RESIDENTS ARGUE THAT THE ORDINANCE INTRUDES INTO THEIR PRIVATE HOMES –

AND IS A WAY FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO LEGALLY PRY INTO THEIR LIVES.

WHILE OTHERS –

PRAISE CITY LEADERS FOR ADDRESSING THE HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SECONDHAND SMOKE.

SUPPORTERS OF THE BAN POINT OUT THAT CIGARETTE SMOKING REMAINS THE LEADING CAUSE OF PREVENTABLE DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES, ACCORDING TO THE CDC.

THEY EMPHASIZE THAT SECONDHAND SMOKE EXPOSURE CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES LIKE HEART DISEASE, STROKE, AND LUNG CANCER.

FOR DECADES –

SMOKING WAS WIDELY ACCEPTED IN MANY PUBLIC PLACES, INCLUDING RESTAURANTS AND EVEN AIRPLANES. 

HOWEVER, AS AWARENESS OF THE HEALTH RISKS HAS GROWN, ALONG WITH RISING COSTS AND INCREASED REGULATIONS LIKE THE ONES HERE –

SMOKING HAS BECOME LESS COMMON IN PUBLIC SPACES.

THE NEW SMOKING BAN IN CARLSBAD GOES INTO EFFECT AT THE START OF NEXT YEAR.

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