CLAYTON — A measure to make ºüÀêÊÓƵ County the first in Missouri with a smoking ban for casinos doesn’t have the support it needs from the County Council to pass, but a new bill still adds additional limits to smoking in public, according to the county health department.
Casinos have been excluded from ºüÀêÊÓƵ County’s indoor smoking ban since it went into effect in 2011, but health officials proposed removing the exception earlier this year. The bill stalled in May as the seven-member council considered the proposal behind closed doors. But the casino provision never gained political traction among a majority, said Christopher Ave, a spokesman for the ºüÀêÊÓƵ County Department of Public Health.
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The council considered a revised bill at its regular meeting Tuesday night that keeps the casino exceptions intact but adds additional regulations to public smoking.
The new bill would only allowing smoking on half a casino floor. The rule was in place, then reversed after a series of public votes, but the new measure clarifies it is required, Ave said.
If approved by the council, smoking of any kind, including tobacco, marijuana or vaping, will not be allowed on county property, indoors or outdoors. That means smoking will not be allowed at county parks or around county buildings, including those the county leases. The new bill adds marijuana to the definition of smoking and expressly bans it anywhere smoking is not allowed.
Dr. Kanika Cunningham, health department director, wanted to ban smoking in casinos because of the health risks for employees, and she had the support of local health advocates. But the plan was met with opposition from some councilmembers and gaming company Penn Entertainment, which owns Hollywood Casino in Maryland Heights and River City Casino in Lemay. They said it would negatively impact business.
The bill does not ban so-called pot lounges where smokers could enjoy cannabis, but it doesn’t allow them either. County leaders will have to decide if they want to create a legal framework to regulate pot lounges.
The council could vote on the bill as soon as next week.