POLICY STATEMENT

In accordance with state law, Nevada State University (NSU) maintains a Tobacco- and Electronic Smoking Device -free educational and work environment. NSU recognizes the negative health impacts of direct and secondhand smoking and the use of electronic smoking devices (ESDs).

Nevada State University is committed to providing a safe and healthy working and learning environment for the students, academic faculty, administrative faculty, classified employees, contractors, and public on its campuses.

POLICY

Smoking and the use of tobacco products including electronic smoking devices is prohibited in all NSU owned and leased buildings/facilities, per NRS 202.2483 and 202.249. Additionally, smoking and/or using ESDs in, near, or adjacent to any entrance of a public building and any open and/or public spaces on the campuses of NSU is prohibited. NSU promotes and encourages a 100% tobacco- and ESD-free environment.

DEFINITIONS

Electronic Smoking Device (ESD) – Any noncombustible product containing nicotine, or any other substance intended for human consumption that can be used by a person in any manner for the purpose of inhaling vapor or aerosol from the product. Examples of ESDs include e-cigarettes, e-cigars, e-pipes, e-hookah, vape pens, or similar product names or descriptors.
Marijuana Product (as a tobacco product): All parts of the plant Cannabis sativa L., whether growing or not; the plant’s seeds; the resin extracted from any part of such plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such plant, its seeds, or its resin. Does not include the mature stalks of such plant, fiber produced from such stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of such plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such mature stalks (except resin extracted therefrom), fiber, oil, or cake, or the sterilized seed of such plant which is incapable of germination.
Marijuana-related: Using a brand, corporate name, trademark, logo, symbol, motto, selling message, recognizable pattern or colors, or any other indicia of product identical to, similar to, or identified with, those used for any marijuana product or company that manufactures, produces, or distributes a marijuana product.
Nevada State University Campuses: All properties, facilities, structures, and vehicles owned, leased, rented, occupied, operated, or controlled by Nevada State University in any location, whether indoors or outdoors. This includes all indoor spaces, such as buildings, classrooms, hallways, classrooms, waiting rooms, meeting venues, community areas, performance venues, and private residential spaces within Nevada State University residential living facilities/housing. It also includes all campus and residential grounds, sidewalks, streets,
paths, landscaped spaces, parking lots, recreational areas, and personal vehicles that are on campus.
Secondhand Smoke: Smoke inhaled involuntarily from tobacco being smoked by others. Smoke from burning tobacco products, like cigarettes, cigars, hookahs, or pipes.
Smoking: Inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying any lighted or heated cigar, cigarette, pipe, hookah, or any other lighted or heated tobacco or plant product intended for inhalation including the use of Electronic Smoking Devices.
Tobacco: Any product containing, made, or derived from nicotine-rich leaves that is intended for human consumption, whether chewed, smoked, absorbed, dissolved, inhaled, snorted, sniffed, or ingested by any other means.
Tobacco Product: Any substance containing tobacco leaf, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, hookah tobacco (shisha), snuff, chewing tobacco, dipping tobacco, bidis, blunts, clove cigarettes, or any other preparation of tobacco; and any product or formulation of matter containing biologically active amounts of nicotine that is manufactured, sold, offered for sale, or otherwise distributed with the expectation that the product or matter will be introduced into the human body by inhalation, ingestion, or absorption. Does not include any cessation product specifically approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in
treating nicotine or tobacco dependence.
Tobacco-Related: Applies to the use of a tobacco brand or corporate name, trademark, logo, symbol, or motto, selling message, recognizable pattern or colors, or any other indicator of product identical to or similar to, or identifiable with, those used for any brand of tobacco products or company which manufactures Tobacco Products or Smoking products.
Vaping: Inhaling and exhaling vapor containing nicotine and flavoring produced by a device designed for this purpose.

COMPLIANCE AND OTHER SUPPORT – SMOKE/EDS FREE CAMPUS

I. Promotion and Sale of Smoking and Tobacco/ESD Products Prohibited

Tobacco-related advertising or sponsorship is not permitted on NSU premises, sponsored events, or in publications produced by the institution. Tobacco products, ESD’s, hookahs, and other similar smoking-related products shall not be sold or distributed, even as samples, on NSU’s premises with the exception of advertising in a newspaper or magazine that is not produced by Nevada State University, and which is lawfully sold, bought, or distributed on Nevada State University property.

II. Smoking Cessation Support for Students and Employees

NSU is committed to helping students, employees, and others make healthy and informed lifestyle choices, including those who want to cease smoking or using tobacco products. Free resources are available to all NSU employees and students including the Nevada Tobacco Quitline. Additional cessation information and resources are listed in Appendices A and B of this policy.

III. Compliance

This policy focuses on improving the health of the NSU community. Individuals are encouraged to respectfully inform others about the policy and the free smoking cessation resources as noted in Appendix B. Students, employees, and others who violate this policy are subject to applicable disciplinary, legal, and/or administrative action.

IV. Exceptions

Nevada State University respects cultural practices that include the use of tobacco as well as the possible need to conduct research on this substance.

With documented pre-approval from NSU’s Vice President of Finance and Business Operations or their delegate/designee, the use of tobacco products is permitted when used in connection with the practice of cultural activities by Native Americans that are in accordance with the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, 42 U.S.C. sections 1996 and 1996a allowing for the use of ceremonial tobacco.

STATUTES

This policy exists to define the use of Tobacco and ESDs on the NSU campus, as is outlined in multiple State of Nevada laws and governing documents.

● Nevada Revised Statutes prohibit smoking and using electronic smoking devices inside government buildings owned and/or occupied by any component of the Nevada System of Higher Education. (N.R.S. 202.2483)
● Nevada Revised Statutes permit additional, voluntarily designations and establishments as smoke-free. (N.R.S. 202.2483 (7)
● Nevada Revised Statutes allows for the restriction of tobacco use in public to protect health and safety. (N.R.S. 202.249)
● Nevada Revised Statutes requires that signage be posted prohibiting smoking. (N.R.S. 202.2483 (9).
● The State of Nevada Employee Handbook prohibits smoking in, near or adjacent to any entrance of a public building. A “no smoking zone” must span at least 30 feet from building entrances/exits. (State of Nevada Employee Handbook, p. 36).
● NSU policy prohibits the use of marijuana and marijuana-related products. (NSU Policy Marijuana Use on Campus (PS 4).

HISTORY

PS 6.1 is an update of PS 6.

CONTACTS

• Primary Contact(s): FBO | (702) 992-2311 | [email protected]
• Resource Contact(s): Sustainability Council | n/a | [email protected]

APPENDIX A

Negative Health Impacts of Smoking Nevada State University acknowledges the multiple negative health impacts of smoking, using electronic smoking devices, and using tobacco products. It also acknowledges that
these negative health impacts affect not just individuals who are smoking, using electronic smoking devices, and using tobacco products but also the people who are around them. Some of the negative health impacts of smoking include the following:

● The Surgeon General has determined that tobacco use in any form, active and passive, is a significant health hazard.
● Tobacco smoke contains carcinogens.
● Exposure to secondhand smoke causes disease, including heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease, and lung cancer, as well as premature death.
● There is no risk-free level of exposure to second-hand smoke.
● Electronic smoking devices emit disease-causing toxic substances and exposure to aerosol from electronic smoking devices is tantamount to levels of exposure comparable to those of passive smokers.
● Many of the harmful substances in tobacco smoke are also present in marijuana smoke.

APPENDIX B

This policy also identifies support services available to assist campus stakeholders in making healthy, informed lifestyle choices related to smoking and ESD use.
Support Services Information

● Become anEx (www.becomeanex.org)
● Nevada Tobacco Quitline (1-800-QUIT NOW) (https://nevada.quitlogix.org/en-US/) – Déjelo Ya: dando sus primeros pasos hacia una vida libre del tabaco.
● Help! I Want to Quit Smoking by American Heart Association
● Quit Smoking, Vaping and Tobacco Use – Ending Tobacco Use and Nicotine Addiction
● This is Quitting (18-24 year olds) (Text DITCHVAPE to 88709)
● Southern Nevada Health District (https://www.southernnevadahealthdistrict.org/ )
● Nevada Tobacco Quitline (1-800-QUIT NOW) (https://nevada.quitlogix.org/en-US/)
● My Life, My Quit (https://nv.mylifemyquit.org/index)
● Freedom From Smoking (https://www.freedomfromsmoking.org/)
● Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act: (https://www.southernnevadahealthdistrict.org/Health-Topics/nevada-clean-indoor-air-act/ )
● Southern Nevada Tobacco 21 Initiative (https://www.southernnevadahealthdistrict.org/Health-Topics/tobacco-21/ )
● Nevada Tobacco Prevention Coalition (http://www.tobaccofreenv.org/)
● Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Smoking & Tobacco Use, (https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/index.htm)

APPROVALS

Approved by Vice President for Finance and Business Operation, Gloria J Walker, January 27, 2025
Approved by President, Dr. DeRionne Pollard, January 30th, 2025.