HRM smoking zones to be set two days before pot legalization

The Halifax Regional Municipality will enact its anti-smoking bylaw on Oct. 15, two days ahead of cannabis legalization.

According to a spokesperson, municipal staff are still working to determine the locations of designated smoking areas. Eventually they will be posted on a map available on the municipality’s website.

“We’re going to talk to people in the community, find out where they feel good spots would be,” said spokesperson Brendan Elliott.

The bylaw will prohibit smoking and vaping of all tobacco and cannabis products on all municipal properties, including streets and sidewalks, unless otherwise noted.

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READ MORE: Halifax businesses split on possible effects of incoming smoking ban

Staff members are reportedly working to put together a map of the designated smoking zones, although the municipality has not said how many there will be.

“We’ll talk to bar owners, we’re going to listen to universities, hospitals, everyone that thinks they need to have a spot that will be on the sidewalk that will be municipal property, we’re going to listen to them,” said Elliott.

An email address will be available next week which residents can use to submit requests to add designated smoking locations in the future. It’s unclear exactly how those will be approved, but Elliott said that every situation will be evaluated based on it’s own merits.

All designated smoking areas will still need to abide by the Nova Scotia Smoke Free Places Act, which prohibits smoking within four metres of a business doorway or window.

Designated areas will continue to be added or removed after Oct. 15 as municipal staff learn what works and what doesn’t.

Elliott also said they will be rolling out a huge public promotion of the rules which will include billboards, trailers at movies and other advertisements so that everyone is aware of the rules when the bylaw takes effect.