The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is reportedly receiving a new proposal that will impose a $1000 fine on smoking in apartment buildings with three or more units.
The smoking ban is focused on tobacco, smoking cannabis, and vaping and would extend to patios and balconies.
Norman Yee, the Board of Supervisors President, introduced the bill as one of his last pieces of legislation, which will be voted on December 1, 2020.
San Francisco already implemented a smoking ban in areas like building lobbies or stairwells. Some apartment leases have smoking bans built into the lease.
Supervisor Rafael Mandelman raised her concerns regarding cannabis smoking banned in homes. Those smokers could smoke freely. While Yee modifies the exemption of smoking cannabis for medical purposes. However, Mandelman still didn’t think that would be enough to suffice people who are no longer seeking medical exceptions with marijuana legalized.
According to the Examiner, Yee took her reference from a mother who called for help as her baby was exposed to secondhand smoke and feared the health impacts.
Yee said, “I was alerted to and remind that San Francisco has fallen behind many cities in enacting policies to protect our most vulnerable from secondhand smoke by a mother with an infant.”
However, the Department of Health will be accountable for imposing the law, beginning with a warning and education about smoking termination. Repeat offenders could face fines up to $1000 a day.