Shahroze Rauf | Contributor
Featured Image: Despite a change to the on-campus smoking policy, smokers need not leave campus to indulge. | Shahroze Rauf
York’s Board of Governors has approved their new smoking policy. Coming into effect during the Winter term, the policy will be enforced on tobacco, cannabis, and e-cigarette smokers, and is set to be reviewed every five years by the university.
The policy, approved on November 27, sets out requirements that encompass smoking both cannabis and tobacco on campus.
At the moment, cannabis and cigarette smoking is permitted nine metres, or 30 feet away from a building.
According to a statement provided by Carol McAuley, vice-president of finance and administration, the university intends to monitor the climate of tobacco and cannabis use.
“As Cannabis legalization continues to evolve, York remains committed to maintaining a safe, secure, and healthy environment for its community members through information sharing and education.
“We will continue to assess the changing landscape, consult the community, and adjust our policies to reflect legislative changes and university decisions,” she says.
Legalization was only the first step in Canada’s plan for cannabis. On December 13, the government of Ontario announced that 25 Retail Store Authorizations will be given out as cannabis supplies stabilize.
Now, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has been given the mandate to organize a lottery and decide who may apply for a Retail Operator Licence to sell cannabis. The lottery opened online at 12 a.m. on January 7. These retail stores will give a legal alternative for cannabis users and will open on April 1.
As a result, students could have easier access to cannabis as in-store purchases will be legal, which may lead to more students in possession of cannabis on campus. This could put a damper on the hopes of many smoke-free campus advocates.
Fourth-year psychology student Tharany Puvaneswaran is someone who is not looking forward to campus-life with legal cannabis.
“It’s going to be more annoying to go outside. The smell travels, you can easily smell it from afar. Once more people start doing it, I feel like it’ll be worse,” she says.
Student safety is also a concern. In 2018, there have been ten security bulletins posted, leaving students like Puvaneswaran feeling unsafe on campus.
“For someone like me, traveling on campus outside will be difficult. People who are intoxicated or high will not make the best decisions. It’s possible that these people can become a danger to themselves and others around them, especially if they’re not in a safe environment and just out in public smoking,” she says.
However, other students, such as fourth-year music student and cannabis-user, Josh Buckley, do not feel that much has changed on campus. “People will do exactly the same as they’ve always done, they will just be visible,” he says.
Furthermore, Buckley feels that pre-existing provincial smoking regulations are enough to keep smokers, tobacco or cannabis, in line with standards.
“While I see advocates for a smoke-free campus, I think a good compromise is smoking in designated areas.” Buckley says.
Agreeing with Buckley, Puvaneswaran says: “These areas should be secluded, and away from most people. Campus security needs to be more vigilant and aware of people who are smoking pot on campus.”
