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Board Policy #461.0, Cannabis, Electronic Cigarettes, Tobacco - A Smoke-Free Environment 

WORKING DOCUMENT

1. Policy Statement

The York Region District School Board (YRDSB) believes that all students and staff have the right to a safe and healthy learning and working environment. Through the Board’s Mission, Vision and Values, Multi-Year Strategic Plan and in accordance with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act (SFOA) and any other appropriate legislation, the Board provides a working and learning environment which is free from the harmful effects of cannabis, electronic cigarettes, and tobacco-related products.

2. Application

This policy applies to all YRDSB staff, students, visitors, volunteers, permit holders, contractors, service providers, transportation providers and all other members of the YRDSB community when on, or parked on school property, Board property, Board Offices, and public areas within 20 metres of these grounds or when participating in school-related activities. 

Smoking and/or holding lighted or heated tobacco or cannabis products, consuming any other tobacco or cannabis products, or using electronic cigarette devices (vaping) is therefore prohibited on and within 20 metres of Board property or in personal vehicles parked on Board property. 

This policy provides exceptions for the traditional use of tobacco as part of Indigenous and/or other cultural or spiritual practices in accordance with the Smoke Free Ontario Act (SOFA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code duty to accommodate.

The SFOA also prohibits the smoking and vaping of medical cannabis on and within 20 metres of school grounds.

The use of any substance for medicinal purposes, including but not limited to cannabis, must adhere to the Policy and Procedure #662.0, Student Health Supports. Staff use of any substance must adhere to Board Procedure #219.2, Substance Use.

3. Responsibilities

3.1 The Board of Trustees is responsible for:

1. reviewing the Cannabis, Electronic Cigarettes, Tobacco - A Smoke-Free Environment policy in accordance with the priorities in the Multi-Year Strategic Plan and the approved policy review cycle; and
2. understanding and communicating with members of the community about the Cannabis, Electronic Cigarettes, Tobacco - A Smoke-Free Environment policy, as required.

3.2 The Director of Education is responsible for:

1. implementing and operationalizing the Cannabis, Electronic Cigarettes, Tobacco - A Smoke-Free Environment policy.

4. Definitions

4.1 Board Property

All administrative and non-administrative Board-operated buildings or lands owned or occupied by the Board including schools. Board-owned vehicles and machinery are also considered to be Board property.

4.2 Cannabis, Cannabis Related Products and Medical Cannabis User

Cannabis refers to a drug that is made from the dried leaves and flowers of the cannabis indica or sativa plants (often referred to as a marijuana, pot, weed, etc., that is typically smoked, vaped, or ingested).

Cannabis Related Products refer to any product containing, made or derived from cannabis (including synthetic products) that is intended for human consumption whether smoked, vaped, heated, inhaled, dissolved, or ingested. Common types of cannabis products include dried cannabis (e.g., joints, spliffs, blunts) and concentrated cannabis products (e.g., edibles, hash, hash oil, shatter, wax, etc.), or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)/cannabidiol (CBD) infused drinks. 

Medical Cannabis User, for the purpose of this policy, refers to any person who is authorized to possess cannabis solely for their own medical purposes in accordance with the Education Act.

4.3 Electronic Cigarette[1]

Electronic cigarette refers to a vapourizer or inhalant-type device, whether called an electronic cigarette or by any other name, that contains a power source and heating element designed to heat a substance and produce a vapour intended to be inhaled by the user of the device directly through the mouth, whether or not the vapour contains nicotine.

4.4 Smoking

Smoking refers to inhaling or exhaling smoke from lighted cigars, cigarettes, pipes or any other lighted device, or holding lighted cigars, cigarettes, pipes or any other lighted device.

4.5 Tobacco and Tobacco Related Products

Tobacco refers to the leaves of the tobacco plants that have been dried and processed to be rolled up and smoked. Tobacco is the main ingredient in cigarettes and chewing tobacco.

Tobacco Related Products refer to any product containing, made, or derived from tobacco (including synthetic products) that is intended for human consumption, whether chewed, smoked, absorbed, dissolved, inhaled, snorted, sniffed, or ingested by any other means. Common types of tobacco products include, but are not limited to, cigarettes, herbal cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, blunt wraps, beedies, shisha, chew, plug, snuff and snus.

4.5 Vaping[2] and Vaper Products

Vaping refers to inhaling or exhaling vapour from an e-cigarette/vape, or holding an activated electronic cigarette/vape, whether or not the vapour contains nicotine, cannabis or flavoured vaper product.

Vaper Products refer to an electronic cigarette, an e-substance, or any component of an electronic cigarette, including the package, and also includes but not limited to flavoured juice/tobacco products, vaper product, lighters, packaging, tanks, mods, cartridges, vaporizers, vape pens, dab pens and dab rings.

[1] Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2015, S.O. 2015, c. 7, Sched. 3. (2017, December 12). Retrieved January 11, 2018, from https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/15e07

[2] Government of Canada. (2019) Retrieved from September 20, 2019 from https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/smoking-tobacco/vaping.html

5. Contact

Education and Community Services

6. History

Approved: 1996 

Reviewed: 2002 

Working Document: June 2012, July 2018, March 2026

Revised: 2007, March 2013, November 2019, January 2026 

Footnotes

1 Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2015, S.O. 2015, c. 7, Sched. 3. (2017, December 12). Retrieved January 11, 2018, from https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/15e07

2 Government of Canada. (2019) Retrieved from September 20, 2019 from https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/smoking-tobacco/vaping.html

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Board Procedure #461.0 Tobacco and Smoke-Free Environment

1. Procedure Statement

This procedure supports the Cannabis, Electronic Cigarettes, Tobacco - A Smoke-Free Environment policy and outlines how the Board will respond to individuals who are not in compliance with the policy and/or the Smoke-Free Ontario Act (SFOA) and any other appropriate legislation.

2. Application

2.1 Traditional Use of Tobacco by Indigenous Persons

The traditional use of tobacco forms part of the Indigenous culture and spirituality. A person may give tobacco to an Indigenous person who is or appears to be less than 19 years of age if the gift is made for traditional Indigenous cultural or spiritual purposes. An Indigenous person/non-Indigenous person may smoke tobacco or hold lighted tobacco if the activity is carried out with an Indigenous person and for traditional Indigenous cultural or spiritual purposes.

2.2 Progressive Discipline

Students shall surrender substances listed in the policy and listed under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act when they are found in possession of these substances and understand that their parents/guardians may be notified and progressive discipline as per Policy and Procedure #668.0 Caring and Safe Schools will apply.

3. Responsibilities

3.1 The Director of Education shall:

1. allocate staff and resources to support the Cannabis, Electronic Cigarettes, Tobacco - A Smoke-Free Environment procedure.

3.2 Coordinating Superintendent of Education, Human Resource Services, People and Culture shall:

1. ensure that the expectations of this policy are shared with all Board employees at the time of hire and thereafter on an annual basis; and

2. ensure that all accommodation requests from employees for the use of medical prescribed cannabis in the workplace are reviewed in accordance with Board Procedure #219.2, Substance Use.

    

3.3 Superintendents of Education shall:

1. implement and operationalize the Cannabis, Electronic Cigarettes, Tobacco - A Smoke-Free Environment;
2. support understanding, alignment and interpretation of this policy and related procedures across the Board and YRDSB schools;
3. provide consultation and leadership to school administrators/managers on adherence to this policy, including decisions relating to student progressive discipline; and
4. adhere to Board Procedure #219.2, Substance Use for staff requiring any substance for medicinal purposes, including but not limited to cannabis.

3.4 Managers and Supervisors shall:

1. take a leadership role in the daily operation of Board buildings, including creating conditions for safe and caring workplaces and supporting staff learning and capacity-building;
2. ensure the effective implementation of the Cannabis, Electronic Cigarettes, Tobacco - A Smoke-Free Environment policy and procedure by making certain that all individuals invited to, or who work and learn on Board property, are informed of and comply with this policy and procedure;
3. notify the Community Use of Schools team of any violations by permit holders of the Cannabis, Electronic Cigarettes, Tobacco - A Smoke-Free Environment policy;
4. ensure that Board properties, including building interiors and grounds, display “No Smoking/Vaping” signs. Smoking includes carrying or holding lighted cigars, cigarettes, pipes, or any other lighted or electronic device. Examples include, but are not limited to, e-cigarettes, herbal cigarettes, chew, snuff, and snus; and
5. adhere to Board Procedure #219.2, Substance Use for staff requiring any substance for medicinal purposes, including but not limited to cannabis.

3.5 Principals shall:

1. take a leadership role in the daily operation of schools, including creating the conditions for safe and caring schools, and supporting learning and capacity-building among staff;
2. communicate the Provincial Code of Conduct and the Board’s Policy and Procedure #242.0, Standards of Conduct to the school community, including students, staff, and parents/guardians;
3. ensure that Board properties, including building interiors and grounds, have “No Smoking/Vaping” signs;
4. advise the student that their use or distribution of tobacco, cannabis, or electronic cigarettes/associated devices is an infraction of Board policies and the SFOA;
5. confiscate any tobacco, cannabis, or electronic cigarettes/associated devices from a student and dispose of it;
6. apply progressive discipline based on Board Procedure #668.3, Student Bias-Aware Progressive Discipline and Policy and Procedures #668.0 Caring and Safe Schools;
7. contact the parents/guardians and advise them and the student about consequences and available support services if needed;
8. contact municipal bylaw enforcement if appropriate for repeated student infractions;
9. acknowledge the traditional use of tobacco that forms part of Indigenous culture and spirituality;
10. adhere to Policy and Procedure #662.0, Student Health Supports for students requiring any substance for medicinal purposes, including but not limited to cannabis; and
11. adhere to Board Procedure #219.2, Substance Use for staff requiring any substance for medicinal purposes, including but not limited to cannabis.

3.6 Individuals and groups shall:

1. adhere to this policy and other YRDSB policies, the Provincial Code of Conduct, the Board’s Policy and Procedure #242.0, Standards of Conduct, and, if applicable, the school’s Code of Conduct;
2. not smoke and/or hold a lighted or heated tobacco or cannabis product, consume any other tobacco product, or use an electronic cigarette device (vape) on or within 20 metres of Board property, or in personal vehicles parked on Board property or during school/Board sanctioned events;
3. contribute to safe, accepting, inclusive, welcoming and respectful school climates, demonstrate personal accountability, and refrain from inappropriate behaviour of any kind; and
4. acknowledge the traditional use of tobacco that forms part of Indigenous culture and spirituality.

3.7 Board staff shall:

1. understand that violation of the Cannabis, Electronic Cigarettes, Tobacco - A Smoke-Free Environment policy and procedure could result in disciplinary action(s) as outlined in Policy and Procedure #577.0, Staff Progressive Discipline;
2. report any violations of the Cannabis, Electronic Cigarettes, Tobacco - A Smoke-Free Environment policy to the immediate supervisor;
3. report to the disability management team if prescribed medication (e.g., medical marijuana, narcotics, etc.) that may impact/impair their job performance or their safety and/or the safety of others, and such medication has to be taken during working hours and/or in the workplace; and
4. adhere to Board Procedure #219.2, Substance Use for staff requiring any substance for medicinal purposes, including but not limited to cannabis.

4. Contact

Education and Community Services

5. History

Approved: 1996 

Working Document: June 5, 2012, July 2018

Revised: 2007, March 2013, November 2019, January 2026