CLAYTON — The ºüÀêÊÓƵ County Council has approved a bill that prohibits smoking at county parks and on any county property.
Smoking of any kind, including tobacco, marijuana or vaping, will not be allowed on county property, indoors or outdoors, including property the county leases.
The new bill adds marijuana to the definition of smoking and expressly bans it anywhere smoking is not allowed.
The county health department previously pushed for a bill that prohibited smoking at casinos, which have been exempted from the county’s smoking ban. 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.
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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 approved by the council Tuesday does restrict smoking to half of a casino floor. The rule was in place, then reversed after a series of public votes, but the new measure clarifies it is required, according to the county health department.
The measure passed 5-0, with two members of the council absent Tuesday. County Executive Sam Page signed the ordinance Wednesday.
The ordinance goes into effect in 15 days, said Doug Moore, a spokesman for the county executive. Signs will be posted at county buildings and parks.
This story was updated Wednesday afternoon to reflect that the county executive had signed the ordinance.