As of today, smoking any form of tobacco or cannabis, vaping, using e-cigarettes, or consuming smokeless tobacco is not be permitted anywhere on Fanshawe College’s property.
But, how are smokers on campus feeling on the first day of this policy?
“There should be segregated areas [to smoke], because they can’t just forget about us. There’s a stigma attached to having to go all the way off campus for a smoke… It just doesn’t make you feel good,” said Phil Gibson, a Fine Art student.
Although he wishes smoking was allowed, Gibson feels that under the circumstances, the prohibition was necessary. “If we allow one thing on campus, then we have to allow the other. I just think…by moving [smoking] cigarettes off [campus], it will help to not promote smoking cannabis while coming to class,” he said.
Desolated smoking area on the first day of the smoke-free policy
Gibson believes many issues will arise once the cold winter arrives. “Students will complain because they have to go so far in between their classes. Eventually, [Fanshawe] will need to implement designated areas for smoking,” he added.
The college implemented the smoke-free policy a couple of weeks ago, just a day before the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Just like Western University, Fanshawe planned on becoming a smoke-free campus by 2019. However, the legalization of cannabis sped up the process as wherever smoking tobacco is allowed, so is smoking marijuana.
The college wants students to be aware of the physical and mental effects that smoking can have on their health.
With the exception of medical cannabis, edibles are not permitted on campus. For students in residence, the promotion, distribution and growing of marijuana is also prohibited.
