Cal State LA is Cannabis, Smoke, Vape, and Tobacco Free

Policy Facts

Per California State University Policy on Systemwide Smoke and Tobacco Free Environment, "Effective September 1, 2017, all California State University campuses shall be 100% Smoke Free and Tobacco Free. Smoking, the use or sale of tobacco products, and the use of designated smoking areas are prohibited on all California State University properties. Members of the CSU community are expected to fully comply with the policy..."

Important Terms

The Policy includes the following definitions:

  • Smoke Free
    • Means the use of cigarettes, pipes, cigars, and other “smoke” emanating products including e-cigarettes, vapor devices and other like products are prohibited on all University properties.
  • Smoke or Smoking
    • Means inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying any lighted or heated cigar, cigarette, cigarillo, pipe, hookah, or any other lighted or heated tobacco or plant product intended for inhalation, whether natural or synthetic, in any manner or in any form. “Smoke” or “Smoking” also includes the use of an electronic smoking device that creates an aerosol or vapor, in any manner or in any form, or the use of any oral smoking device for the purpose of circumventing the prohibition of smoking.
  • Tobacco Free
    • Means the use of cigarettes, pipes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, snuffs, and other tobacco products are prohibited on all University properties.
  • Tobacco Product
    • Means —
      • A product containing, made or derived from tobacco or nicotine that is intended for human consumption, whether smoked, heated, chewed, absorbed, dissolved, inhaled, snorted, sniffed, or ingested by any other means, including, but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, little cigars, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, and snuff.
      • An electronic device that delivers nicotine or other vaporized liquids to the person inhaling from the device, including, but not limited to, an electronic cigarette, cigar, pipe, or hookah.
      • Any component, part, accessory of a tobacco product, whether or not sold separately.
      • “Tobacco product” does not include a product that has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for sale as a tobacco cessation product or for other therapeutic purposes where the product is marketed and sold solely for such an approved purpose.

Important Facts

What You Need to Know

  • Cannabis/marijuana (and hashish, hash oil, honey oil, wax...) is an illegal substance per the federal Controlled Substances Act. Medicinal marijuana and synthetic marijuana (also known as K2 and spice) are also illegal.
  • Based on federal laws, Cal State LA prohibits the unlawful possession, manufacture, cultivation, distribution, use, and sale of cannabis and other illegal substances on campus or on property owned and controlled by the university.

Avoiding Cannabis/Marijuana Reduces Risk of Harm

Risks associated with cannabis include:

  • Physical risks
    • Impaired coordination, balance, and reaction time; nausea; dizziness; increased appetite; lung damage; increased appetite; seizures; stroke; violence...
  • Psychological risks
    • Anxiety; impaired memory and judgment; disorganized thinking; hallucinations; panic attacks; paranoia...
  • Other risks
    • Academic and legal problems; campus sanctions; crashes resulting from driving under the influence; financial aid ineligibility...

For information on Cal State LA Policies, please see:

For information on responsible use, please see:

Resources for those under the age of 21

References

Smoking & Tobacco

The best thing someone who smokes can do for their health, as well as for the health of those around them, is to quit smoking:

  • Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death.
  • Tobacco kills up to half of its users.
  • Tobacco kills more than 7 million people each year. More than 6 million of those deaths are the result of direct tobacco use while around 890,000 are the result of non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke.

For information on smoking and tobacco, please see:

E-Cigarettes | E-Cigs | Vapes

Although some studies indicate using e-cigs may be safer than smoking tobacco, e-cigs are not without risk and there is "no body of research which points to definitive e-cig safety."

  • Nicotine is highly addictive — whether it's found in a cigarette, cigar, hookah, or e-cig — and may lead to addiction to other substances.
  • The human brain doesn't reach full maturity until the mid-20s. Nicotine adversely affects brain development, and can result in attention and learning deficits, mood disorders, lowered impulse control, susceptibility to addiction, and other negative health impacts.
  • Nicotine exposures from e-cigs can result in acute poisoning and death.
  • With or without nicotine, e-cigs may contain harmful, toxic and cancer-causing substances.
  • E-cigs (and other tobacco products, such as hookahs) are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Reduce Vaping Risks

Vaping can be associated with health risks, including serious lung injuries. Keep these CDC guidelines in mind:

  • Youth and young adults should not use e-cigarette products.

  • Women who are pregnant should not use e-cigarette products.

  • Adults who do not currently use tobacco products should not start using e-cigarette products.

  • If you do use e-cigarette products, you should not buy these products from casual sources (e.g., family, friends, street dealers).

  • You should not modify e-cigarette products or add any substances to these products that are not intended by the manufacturer.

  • Adult smokers who are attempting to quit should use evidence-based treatments, including counseling and FDA-approved medications. If you need help quitting tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, contact your doctor or other medical provider.

If you are concerned about your health after using an e-cigarette product, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. You may also submit a report to the FDA via the online Safety Reporting Portal.

For information on e-cigs, please see:

Health Risks

In general, smoking causes lung damage and increases infection risk. Vaping can also harm the lungs. Certain lung conditions increase the risk for severe COVID-19 disease. Quitting smoking and vaping may help lessen COVID-19 risk.

What is E-Cigarette or Vaping Associated Lung Injury (EVALI)?

EVALI is a damaging lung condition associated with vaping. During the 2019-2020 outbreak, more than 50% of the individuals who required hospitalization were younger than 25 years of age. The outbreak peaked in September 2019, but cases are ongoing and individuals continue to be impacted.

What are the Symptoms of EVALI?

EVALI can cause a variety of respiratory and other symptoms, including:

  • Cough
  • Trouble breathing
  • Chest pain
  • Fever
  • Stomach pain
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Weight loss
  • Other symptoms

What Causes EVALI?

EVALI is primarily associated with vaping THC (the primary psychoactive ingredient in cannabis) and vitamin E acetate, a THC additive.

The majority of vaping products linked to the EVALI outbreak were obtained from "informal sources," such as friends, family, online sources, or street buys.

How Do I Protect Myself Against EVALI?

  • Everyone should consider not using vapes, especially adolescents, young adults and pregnant individuals
  • Avoid THC and vape products containing THC
  • Don't get vape products from informal sources
  • Avoid modifying or using modified vape products
  • Smokers interested in quitting smoking should avoid vapes and consider FDA-approved nicotine therapies

Resources and References

For information on EVALI, please read:

References

Resources

For Students: Smoking Cessation at the Student Health Center

For your health: The Student Health Center's pharmacy has over-the-counter nicotine gum available at no cost for students who are interested in smoking cessation and need temporary relief from nicotine cravings. Students seeking smoking cessation assistance may also schedule appointments with a Student Health Center physician for evaluation and care.*

For information or to schedule a confidential appointment, call 323343-3302.

*Note: These services are based on eligibility to use Student Health Center services. Please click on Eligibility for information.

For Employees: Breaking Free Tobacco Cessation from LifeMatters®

Breaking Free is a telephone coaching and counseling tobacco cessation program offered through LifeMatters® by Empathia, Cal State LA's confidential employee assistance program. For information or to sign up, call LifeMatters® at 800-367-7474. Additional information is also available by visiting www.mylifematters.com and entering GOEAGLES, the Cal State LA LifeMatters® access password. An overview of Breaking Free is available through the home page "Services" tab.

Questions related to this and other LifeMatters® programs and services (e.g., counseling, work/life resources and referrals, financial consultation with a certified financial counselor, and legal consultation with an attorney) may also be directed to Erika Ramirez, Cal State LA Human Resources Management, Employee and Labor Relations, at 323-343-3654.

For Everyone: Smoking Cessation Resources*

*Depending on the resource, assistance is available: at no cost or for a fee; through an app; via online chat; or by phone (including text). All provide online information and some include free materials available for download.

Students

Students with concerns related to substance use and dependence may seek confidential assistance (i.e., not subject to disciplinary action) from Student Health Center medical providers and counseling and psychological services by calling:

  • 323-343-3300

Employees

Employees with substance use and dependency concerns may seek care through their personal healthcare providers and/or seek assistance from LifeMatters,® Cal State LA's confidential employee assistance program at 800-367-7474. Additional information is available by visiting www.mylifematters.com and entering GOEAGLES, the Cal State LA password to access LifeMatters.®

For Everyone

DISCLAIMER: These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by Cal State LA of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual. Cal State LA bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.