PASCAGOULA, Miss. (WLOX) — On Tuesday, the city of Pascagoula updated its smoke-free ordinance.

Changes include smoking restrictions in all spaces except for private residences. That exception does not apply to private residences being used as a child-care, adult day-care or health-care facility. The measure also exempts retail tobacco stores and private clubs, except when they are open to the general public.

The old ordinance defined smoking as “inhaling, exhaling, burning or carrying any lighted or heated cigar, cigarette, e-cigarette, pipe, hookah, or other lighted tobacco product in any manner or in any form.”

The updated ordinance includes cannabis and a broader definition of vaping as forms of smoking.

“Smoking means inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying any lighted or heated cigar, cigarette, pipe, hookah, or any other lighted or heated tobacco or plant product intended for inhalation, whether natural or synthetic, including marijuana/cannabis, in any manner or in any form. Smoking includes the use of an electronic smoking device which creates an aerosol or vapor, in any manner or in any form, or the use of any oral smoking device for the purpose of circumventing the prohibition of smoking in this Article,” the ordinance says.

City officials said the measure passed unanimously, with one absence. Those officials said the city was approached by the American Cancer Society to make changes to the ordinance.

“We applaud the leaders of Pascagoula for making critical changes to the city’s smoke-free ordinance and making it a comprehensive model for Mississippi. Everyone has the right to breathe clean, smoke-free air regardless of where they live, work or play. And no one should have to choose between their health and a good paycheck,” American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Mississippi government relations director Kimberly Hughes said.

“At Singing River Health System, our mission is to Improve Health and Save Lives, and the passage of a comprehensive smoke-free ordinance strongly aligns with our commitment to protecting the health of our community, especially the well-being of children and future generations. This action reflects Pascagoula’s dedication to the health of its residents. There is clear evidence that exposure to secondhand smoke poses serious health risks, and this ordinance is an important step toward promoting long-term health across the Gulf Coast,” Singing River Health System CEO Laurin St. Pé said.

The changes follow a 2018 update that saw the adoption of language that banned e-cigarettes and a 2013 update that banned smoking in public spaces.

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