Marion Attempting to Ban Nicotine from City Parks

The city of Marion is attempting to join 60 other Iowa cities that ban the use of nicotine products in it's parks and trails. It's an issue that I would think would be a unanimous one. But debate within the Marion city council proves otherwise. The council is split on whether to impose the ban. Some feel that allowing nicotine products in parks and near trails sends the wrong message. While others feel there should be designated smoking areas, so they don't exclude smokers from using the parks and trails. Here is why I feel this shouldn't even be a debate.

First, how would you ever enforce the designated areas? What would the fine be? People opposed to the ban say they're afraid that smokers and people who use nicotine products would view any ban as an excuse not to to use the parks. Weren't they afraid of the same thing when we banned smoking from restaurants?  They said that smokers wouldn't go and eat there anymore. Clearly they still do. Tell me the name of one restaurant that closed because of the smoking ban. One. My other problem with allowing nicotine in parks is that Marion is striving to become a healthy city. The idea for the ban originated with the Marion Blue Zones wellness project. Parks and trails encourage people to get out and exercise and be healthy. Why allow nicotine products anywhere near these areas? It simply doesn't make any sense.

If you live in Marion like I do, and are interested in making your opinion known, the Marion City Council will have a public hearing on the issue Thursday.