Policy and Purpose

Policy

For the health of our university community, there is no smoking, vaping or tobacco use allowed on any  Colorado State University campus and all grounds under the control of the university .

To read the entire Smoking, Vaping, and Tobacco Use policy, please click here.

Purpose

No smoking, vaping or tobacco is allowed on CSU grounds for the following reasons:

  • To comply with the state of Colorado executive order
  • To reduce exposure to secondhand smoke or vaping aerosol
  • To support tobacco users in quitting, reducing use and never starting

Comply with the state of Colorado executive order

In November 2018, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper issued an executive order banning tobacco on all “grounds owned or leased by the state under the control of the executive branch.” The order also requires that the university post signs at building entrances and other obvious public areas stating that the sale and use of tobacco products, vaping products and e-cigarettes are prohibited in all buildings and on all grounds owned or leased by the state, except as otherwise provided in the executive order.

Reduce secondhand smoke and vaping aerosol exposure

Exposure to secondhand smoke from burning tobacco products cause disease and premature death among nonsmokers. Any level of exposure to secondhand smoke presents a risk, and even brief exposure can cause immediate harm. Secondhand exposure also includes exposure to vaping aerosol — vaping smoke or cloud. It can contain potentially harmful substances, including nicotine, heavy metals like lead, volatile organize compounds and cancer-causing agents.  (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Support tobacco users in quitting, reducing use and never starting

25 percent of people age 18-24 use e-cigarettes in 2022 in Colorado (https://teeo-cdphe.shinyapps.io/CDPHE_VISION/)

i. Nationally College students past 12-month use was 26.4 % (MTF 2022 p.52)

Although there has been progress in reduction of cigarette use, the use of e-cigarettes and vaping has dramatically increased. In Colorado, 29 percent of Colorado high school students have used e-cigarettes. At CSU, 24.4% of students have used some type of nicotine product in the last month in 2021. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, policies that restrict tobacco use have been shown to help users quit and reduce use, as well as encourage never starting.