City Commissioners set to consider making changes to Lawrence’s smoking ban in light of new state law
Come July 1 there will be a new set of smoking rules in Lawrence, including some that make it tougher to smoke outside.
City commissioners at their meeting Tuesday will review how to make Lawrence’s 6-year-old smoking ban mesh with a new statewide ban that will begin next month.
“It is important that we don’t lose key provisions from our ordinance,” said City Commissioner Aron Cromwell. “We won’t go backwards on this.”
Cromwell said he expects commissioners to keep the parts of Lawrence’s law that are stricter than the state’s, while adopting the stricter provisions in the state law.
Restrictions on outdoor smoking are among the tougher provisions on tap. As previously reported, the state law prohibits smoking within 10 feet of a doorway or other intake to a building. That will mean many of the sidewalk dining areas along Massachusetts Street will be nonsmoking areas.
“You can take a walk down Mass Street and see there are very few places more than 10 feet away from a door,” Cromwell said.
Commissioners are expected to keep provisions of the local law that prohibit smoking in private clubs — such as the Eagles or Veterans of Foreign Wars — country clubs and adult care homes. The state law would allow smoking in those locations. The state law also would allow people to smoke nontobacco related products, if they are otherwise legal. The Lawrence law prohibits such smoking.
Commissioners meet at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.







