Smoking and Vaping
The City of Medicine Hat’s Outdoor Smoking and Vaping Bylaw regulates where smoking is permitted in public places: this includes tobacco, vaping, and cannabis. Whether you are smoking cannabis for recreational or for medical purposes, everyone is expected to respect the same rules for where you can smoke. Private property owners may establish additional smoking restrictions on their own properties.
Where can you smoke and vape in Medicine Hat?
The Federal Government of Canada does not directly dictate provincial restrictions for smoking and vaping. However, it does set a national framework for regulating tobacco and vaping products through laws such as the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (TVPA). This federal framework establishes a baseline for regulations, which provinces and territories can build upon with their own legislation.
In Alberta the following rules apply to smoking and vaping:
The minimum age to purchase smoking and vaping products is 18 years old.
The Alberta Tobacco and Smoking Reduction Act bans smoking and vaping in most indoor public spaces and workplaces, including:
• Restaurants
• Bars
• Casinos
• within 5 meters of doors, windows, and air intakes of public buildings
• within 5 meters of public transit
• in vehicles with minors.
Municipalities have the authority to impose additional restrictions on smoking and vaping in outdoor spaces, such as parks and patios.