While it likely won’t be finalized until September, the Astoria City Council gave its initial approval to a ban on smoking–including marijuana–and other forms of tobacco use for its city parks by a 4-1 vote. There was concern expressed at the meeting by some residents about how and if the ban will be enforced, but city officials believe it will be largely self-enforcing and hope to use it as a means to change the culture of allowing smoking in public places. No one spoke in opposition of the ban. The Daily Astorian called the ban “likely to pass.” Astoria has a population of just over 9,500 residents and is located in the northwest corner of the state, just over 70 miles from Portland.
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