CARLSBAD, Calif. – Starting January 1st, Carlsbad will enforce a new law prohibiting smoking, including e-cigarettes and cannabis, in and around multi-unit buildings with three or more residential units, except for outdoor designated spaces. The city council approved the law on August 20th, making Carlsbad the first city in San Diego County to ensure people living in multi-unit homes are protected from secondhand smoke.
The following is a statement from Robert Park, government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) in Southern California:
“Everyone has the right to breathe clean, smoke-free air. We applaud the Carlsbad City Council for protecting residents who live in most multi-unit homes from exposure to secondhand smoke, which, even outdoors, can pose serious health risks.
“Secondhand smoke travels through cracks in walls, light fixtures, wall electric outlets, plumbing, doorways and ventilation systems. The only way to fully protect people from secondhand smoke is to prohibit smoking. Smoke-free policies also play a key role in supporting individuals who are trying to quit and preventing others – especially kids – from starting to smoke.
“This is a critical step toward creating a safer and healthier Carlsbad for all residents, no matter where they live.”
Free tobacco cessation resources can be found at KeepItSacred.org (for American Indian and Alaska Native populations), Amplify.Love (for Black communities), KickItCA.org (in English and Spanish) and AsianSmokersQuitline.org (in Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean and Vietnamese).