Supervisor Kathryn Barger and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved amendments to the county code to ban the smoking of marijuana or nicotine vaporizers, impacting residents of Santa Clarita’s unincorporated communities like Stevenson Ranch, Val Verde and Castaic.

The new codes will apply in the unincorporated portions of LA County and prohibit smoking at hospitals, libraries, museums, bus stops, outdoor dining at restaurants, LA County beaches and parks, and other locations.

“Supervisor Barger supported the motion because no one should have to breathe someone’s else’s secondhand smoke – and that includes smoke from e-cigarettes and cannabis,” said Tony Bell, spokesperson for Barger, who represents Santa Clarita as part of the 5th District.

Supporters of the amendment hope that it will reduce the public’s exposure to secondhand smoke.

“According to the Centers for Disease Control, secondhand smoke causes more than 7,300 lung cancer deaths and nearly 34,000 premature deaths from heart disease among U.S. nonsmokers each year,” said Barbara Ferrer, director of LA County’s Department of Public Health, in a news release. “These changes will help save lives.”

During Tuesday’s meeting of the board of supervisors, several LA County residents used their time with the floor to thank the board and praise them for the approval of these amendments.

The only complaint from those that spoke on the matter was that they believe more signage is needed in parks to inform the public of the ban on smoking.

The amendments also anticipated the development of future technologies, as it bans not-yet-created technologies for consuming nicotine, cannabis or tobacco.

The existing code sets fines of $10 to $100 for smoking in a posted no-smoking area.

The ordinance is expected to take effect in 30 days, according to officials.

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