- Legislation legalizing recreational cannabis in Connecticut includes updates on workplace smoking rules
- Starting Oct. 1, workers taking a smoke break must be 25 feet away from any windows, doors, or air intake vents
- Smoking bans extended to several other venues, but exemptions remain for businesses like tobacco lounges
Summary by Dirk Langeveld
Several updates to workplace smoking restrictions will go into effect this fall under a bill passed by the Connecticut General Assembly to legalize recreational cannabis, according to the Connecticut Business & Industry Association.
The CBIA says that starting Oct. 1, workers taking a smoke break must be at least 25 feet away from any windows, doors, or air intake vents. Smoking bans in certain venues have also been extended to include electronic smoking devices and marijuana as well as traditional tobacco products. Employers are also no longer able to provide smoking rooms for employees in a change that went into effect on July 1.
Other updates include:
- Certain exemptions have been eliminated, with prohibitions on smoking extending to the grounds of hotels and motels, publicly accessible retail establishments, and residential day care facilities during business hours when children are present
- Some exemptions remain, such as public housing and businesses like tobacco lounges that are exempted from the Clean Air Act
- Smoking bans are extended to certain public venues as well, such as the grounds of state and municipal buildings and the platforms of bus and rail stations operated by the state
- Landlords may prohibit their tenants from smoking cannabis at their buildings but cannot forbid its possession
