The provincial government has announced smoking cannabis will be allowed wherever it is legal to smoke tobacco and Chatham-Kent’s medical officer of health has said they should be treated alike.

“Smoke is smoke and I have always advocated that all types of that kind of personal use smoke be regulated the same way,” said Dr. David Colby, who added he can’t comment on any specific policy.

Under Chatham-Kent’s 2014 smoking bylaw, smoking is not prohibited on streets, including sidewalks. However, it is prohibited in several other areas, including municipal property like parklands, playgrounds, beaches, boardwalks and certain pedestrian pathways.

The announcement came Wednesday from Attorney General Caroline Mulroney, who said the Progressive Conservative government intends to amend the Smoke Free Ontario Act to have cannabis smoke treated the same as smoke from tobacco and e-cigarettes.

“In addition, the legislation would prohibit the consumption of cannabis in vehicles and boats that are being driven or under a person’s care or control, recognizing that in these circumstances cannabis poses risks similar to alcohol,” Mulroney said.

Colby said he doesn’t think anyone should smoke cigarettes and further said it is much safer to use cannabis by ingestion or vaping.

“I think the hazards of second-hand smoke are due to smoke and it doesn’t matter if it’s tobacco, hashish, cannabis or anything else,” he said. “It’s not that I’m lenient with cannabis. It’s rather I’m just as stringent with tobacco smoke.”

The previous Liberal provincial government had passed legislation which would have allowed smoking of recreational cannabis only inside private residences or outside on private property.

According to Colby, second-hand smoke is more hazardous inside closed spaces compared to outside areas.

“The dilution factor of outside air really minimizes the potential to get second-hand smoke exposure at significant levels,” he said. “You might catch a scent of it or something like that, whether it’s tobacco or cannabis, but it’s really the hazard for second-hand smoke is an indoor phenomenon.”

Recreational cannabis will be legal in Canada Oct. 17. In Ontario, those 19 years or older will be able to purchase it through an online retailer. Private stores are expected to open in April.

– With files from Postmedia Network