California: Orange County Cities Expand Public Smoking & Vaping Bans
Cities across Orange County, California, are escalating efforts to limit where people can smoke or vape, introducing new restrictions on public use and the sale of tobacco products. This wave of local ordinances aims to reduce public exposure to smoke and aerosol and curb the proliferation of smoke shops.
This week, the city of Cypress joined several others by enacting a new ban on smoking and vaping in locations such as parking lots, farmers markets, and workplaces. The rules also prohibit smoking near bus stops, schools, and daycares. While state law already covers some indoor areas, Cypress’s move extends restrictions to outdoor spaces not covered by state regulations. Enforcement will primarily be complaint-driven.
Meanwhile, the Newport Beach City Council approved a 45-day moratorium on new smoke shops opening, as they consider drafting new zoning restrictions. This decision follows a reported 720% increase in arrests for illegal nitrous oxide use and police raids on two smoke shops that uncovered illegal cannabis and psilocybin mushrooms. Council members are also looking to expand discussions on where smoking and vaping can occur, beyond existing bans in parks and on beaches.
These actions reflect a broader county-wide trend. Garden Grove leaders are awaiting a draft ordinance to ban smoking and vaping in public parks, while Orange is considering a similar public ban. Cities like Irvine, Buena Park, Dana Point, and Laguna Beach have already implemented comprehensive smoking and vaping bans in various public spaces, including parks, streets, and apartment complexes.
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