Whereas,  a Denver City Council workgroup is considering options that could allow marijuana smoking and vaping in any type of business, including retail food establishments, book stores, bars, restaurants, or retail stores as allowed by House Bill 1270 — passed by the Colorado legislature in 2019.

Whereas, smoking restrictions have been enacted to protect the public from disease and death caused by the exposure from secondhand tobacco smoke.

Whereas, secondhand marijuana smoke contains many of the same chemicals in secondhand marijuana smoke, and electronic smoking devices emit some of those same chemicals as well as other chemicals that can cause cancer or are toxic.  

Whereas, smoke-free and vapor-free policies save lives and protect the public from exposure to the health hazards caused by exposure to secondhand smoke and secondhand vapor.

Whereas, Denver residents want control of what they put in their bodies, and they understand that all secondhand tobacco, marijuana smoke, and aerosol emissions from electronic smoking devices contain chemicals that will hurt their health. No one should be forced to breathe harmful chemicals at work and in public places.

Whereas, there are a large variety of products available on the market that are an alternative to smoking or vaping marijuana including infused beverages, edibles, lozenges, inhalers, tinctures, vaginal and rectal suppositories, and nasal sprays.

Whereas, the Mayor and Denver City Council should not opt in to allowing marijuana smoking or vaping in "social hospitality" establishments as allowed by House Bill 1230. To protect the public health and keep our smoke-free laws strong, marijuana smoking or vaping should not be allowed to take place within indoor workplaces and public places.