Kingsville Council has voted unanimously to expand the town's outdoor smoking bylaw to include non-tobacco products.
Council approved the changes to the smoking bylaw during a meeting Tuesday night.
Mayor Nelson Santos says the bylaw now states the smoking of any tobacco or non-tobacco products in non-smoking outdoor areas is prohibited. The non-tobacco products include e-cigarettes, vaporizers and medical marijuana.
"We're try to control anything that is out going into the air," says Santos. "If it's medicinal marijuana we certainly don't want any second hand medicinal [marijuana] affecting our children, or anyone in public places."
Santos says smoking marijuana will remain prohibited in non-smoking areas when the federal government follows through with its plan to legalize the drug.
Eric Nadalin, manager of chronic disease and injury prevention with the Windsor Essex County Health Unit, says council's decision is definitely a step forward.
"As we continue to learn more about the side effects of second-hand exposure to the toxins in the smoke or vapors that are omitted from these new substances, it's important to update our municipal legislation or bylaws to make sure they're being accounted for," he says.
Nadalin says other towns in Essex County, such as Lakeshore and LaSalle, have already modified their existing outdoor smoking bylaws or implemented new bylaws.
Santos says he believes if enough municipalities adapt their smoking bylaws to include non-tobacco products, the provincial government may alter the Smoke Free Ontario Act with similar changes.