SAN FRANCISCO - Lighting up a cigarette at outdoor events held on city property, such as street fairs and concerts, would be banned under new legislation before the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, but medically prescribed marijuana would be okay.
The Huffington Post reports that city supervisor Eric Mar introduced the ban because of the health impacts of secondhand smoke. Small-scale events, like neighborhood block parties, would be exempt from the rule. But here€™s the kicker: medical marijuana smokers wouldn't be affected by the ban at all.
"My hope is that people wouldn't light up at community festivals," Mar explained, "but if it's something medical and prescribed by a doctor, that should be permitted."
Although Mar's proposal exempts medicinal pot, the city€™s health code prohibits medical marijuana use in public parks.
Mar is the city€™s leading advocate for anti-smoking issues. He took the lead on a bill in 2010 that prohibited smoking at sidewalk cafes, outdoor restaurant patios and ATM lines.