I am currently living in what I was told was a non-smoking building. However, the landlord has allowed people to smoke drugs, with no consequence to make these tenants stop or move out. The substances being smoked, all hours of the day and night, are: fentanyl, meth, crack, pot, and cigarettes. Toxic secondhand smoke and fumes have affected my life, and I am getting sicker every day. I even had to be taken by ambulance to the emergency room where doctors assessed me for a heart attack due to the smoke exposure.

Living in fear for my health in my own home is something nobody should have to endure. Across regions, millions of tenants are facing similar situations where landlords are not enforcing non-smoking policies, creating environments filled with hazardous smoke. The risks associated with secondhand smoke are well documented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), linking it to respiratory infections, heart disease, and lung cancer, even in non-smokers.

Our goal is to have clear distinctions and enforcement between smoking and non-smoking rental buildings. Designating buildings clearly as either smoking or non-smoking would help tenants make informed choices about where to live and ensure their health and comfort are not compromised.

We call on local governments and housing authorities to implement laws mandating such designations for rental properties. Enforce penalties on landlords who fail to uphold these policies, and carry out regular inspections to ensure compliance. Providing a healthy living environment should be a basic right for all tenants, and safeguarding residents against exposure to harmful smoke and chemicals needs immediate attention.

Sign this petition to urge lawmakers to act on this health issue and secure safe living spaces for everyone. The more support we gather, the stronger our voice will be, leading to meaningful change for those afflicted by this growing concern.