Dallas Bans Vaping and Adds Marijuana to Smoking Prohibition

New Ordinance Aims to Protect Public Health, Faces Legal Challenge from Texas Attorney General

The Dallas City Council has unanimously approved a ban on vaping in public spaces, following more than a year of advocacy from the Environmental Commission and the Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability. The new ordinance, set to take effect on December 11, 2025, prohibits the use of electronic smoking devices indoors, within 15 feet of an establishment entrance, or on park property. Violators will face fines of up to $500.

Personal Experiences and Public Health Concerns Drive Support

Council member Cara Mendelsohn described the initiative as “very personal to her” following her mother’s death from lung cancer. Supporters of the ban cite data from the Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Surgeon General, suggesting that direct and second-hand inhalation of smoke from electronic smoking devices poses a public health risk, particularly to children and elderly individuals.

Kay Kamm, a representative of the American Cancer Society, praised the council’s decision, stating, “This is an extremely important step for the city of Dallas to join other cities that have done this.”

Read more: Dallas Considers Banning Vaping in Public Spaces

Vaping Bans Gain Momentum Across Texas

Dallas joins other major Texas cities, such as Austin, Houston, and San Antonio, in implementing vaping bans in public spaces. Jordan Palmer, a representative with the American Lung Association, applauded the passage of Dallas’ vaping ban, noting that the rise of e-cigarettes has eroded “decades of public health progress” in preventing teen tobacco use.

Dallas County officials have been battling the growing popularity of electronic smoking devices for years. In 2019, Dr. Phillip Huang, director of Dallas County’s Health and Human Services Department, warned that 17 cases of severe respiratory illnesses across the county were believed to be linked to vaping, with eight of the patients being minors.

Ordinance Expands to Include Marijuana and Cannabis

The new policy also includes a ban on dab rigs, water pipes usually used to smoke marijuana extracts and oils, and changes the definition of “smoke or smoking” to include devices used to smoke tobacco or “plant products,” whether natural or synthetic, including marijuana or cannabis.

While the addition of marijuana and cannabis to the smoking prohibition is new, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Adam Bazaldua and Council Member Chad West, both supporters of the recently passed Proposition R, which decriminalized up to four ounces of marijuana in the city, do not see the new ordinance conflicting with the ballot measure. They emphasize that the new policy focuses on regulating where these items can be used, rather than prohibiting them altogether.

Legal Challenge from Texas Attorney General

Despite the overwhelming support for Proposition R on election night, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Dallas over the proposition in late November, stating that “cities cannot pick and choose which state laws they follow.” The passage of the new smoking ordinance may face similar legal challenges as the city navigates the complex landscape of marijuana policy in Texas.

Author
Recent Posts

Matthew Ma

Marketing at Ecigator

With over a decade of experience in the e-cigarette industry, Matthew Ma is a seasoned expert in both the manufacturing and usage aspects of vaping products. His extensive background has provided him with a deep understanding of the intricacies and evolving dynamics of e-cigarettes.