Halifax unveiled more designated smoking areas on Tuesday, with at least 31 now marked on the municipality’s map as of 10:45 a.m.
There are several locations on the Halifax peninsula. Downtown has experienced a growth of the areas, with at least four cropping up on Argyle Street.
The designated smoking areas are the Halifax Regional Municipality’s response to the impending legalization of cannabis. Halifax Regional Council amended its existing Nuisance Bylaw to prohibit smoking of any kind on municipal property, except in specially designated areas. It’s now called the Smoking and Nuisance Bylaw.
Haligonians are still able to light up on private property, but the bylaw prohibits smoking or vaping any substance on municipal property except within three metres of these specifically designated areas.
More are expected to be introduced in the coming days, with the municipality telling Global News on Friday that it had received 50 applications from businesses throughout the municipality.
There will be no cap on the number of designated smoking areas.
The municipality is still accepting applications, and businesses are required to provide a description of the proposed designated smoking area and a rationale for their request.
WATCH: Hundreds of people lined up well before doors opened at NSLC cannabis stores across Nova Scotia to legally purchase the stuff for the first time. And as Alexa MacLean reports, over $200,000 worth has already been sold.
Government says no to legal cannabis lounges
For those hoping to find an indoor public space to smoke, the provincial government says it won’t be changing its mind anytime soon.
The owner of a cannabis smoking lounge says that the soon-to-be-legal product should be treated differently than tobacco.
“It has its own distinct personality as a commodity here and people don’t necessarily want to have to be outside, you know, for five minutes using cannabis,” said Chris Henderson, the owner of High Life Social Club. “They might want to actually socialize.”
The Nova Scotia Department of Justice has said that it will not amend the Smoke Free Places Act to allow for the legislation of cannabis consumption lounges.
“No, this is not something we are considering,” said spokesperson Heather Fairbairn in an email when asked about the possibility of smoking lounges.
“The Smoke Free Places Act requires all indoor public places, including workplaces, and all restaurants, lounges, beverages rooms and cabarets, to be smoke free.”
Many landlords and rental companies in the municipality have banned the smoking of cannabis on their properties, leaving potential tokers with the outdoor DSAs.
The response to the city’s designated smoking areas has been mixed, with critics and councillors pointing out how the municipality has restricted something that was already legal.
“I’m sorry to folks, especially cigarette smokers, who are smoking something that’s always been legal,” said Matt Whitman, councillor for Hammonds Plains-St. Margarets, on Monday.
Whitman voted against the bylaw amendment and said that the roll-out has been poorly executed.
WATCH: Smokers frustrated with lack of designated smoking areas on peninsula
The decision to restrict smoking and vaping came in response to the legalization of cannabis, set for Oct. 17.
The bylaw was scheduled to come into effect on Oct. 1, but was delayed due to logistical issues.
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