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UC Riverside is a Smoke/Tobacco-Free Campus


On January 2, 2014, UC Riverside became a smoke-/tobacco-free campus, prohibiting smoking and the use of any tobacco product on all University Controlled Properties. Smoking and the use of smokeless tobacco products or electronic smoking devices (e.g., e-cigarette), as well as the use of any nicotine product not regulated by the FDA for treating nicotine or tobacco dependence is strictly prohibited at all University Controlled Properties. This prohibition extends to the use of any form of cannabis/marijuana or other plant-based product. 

This smoke-/tobacco-free policy and associated procedures apply to all University Controlled Properties. In addition, the sale and advertising of tobacco and tobacco-related products are prohibited at all University Controlled Properties. The use, possession, and sale of cannabis/marijuana in any form on any University Controlled Properties or at any University-sponsored event is prohibited.

Violations of this policy by students, faculty and staff may result in university disciplinary action. Campus visitors will be asked to comply with the policy or leave campus.

A smoke/tobacco-free environment is an essential element to creating and maintaining a culture of health and safety at the university. We ask that you not smoke or use any tobacco products on campus.

To review the Smoke/Tobacco-Free Policy, please visit the UCR Policies & Procedures website.

What the Policy Means

All UCR-owned and -leased facilities, buildings, grounds and athletics properties are smoke/tobacco-free, regardless of whether or not notices are posted.

Exceptions to the Policy

Tobacco use may be permitted under the following circumstances:

  • Research involving tobacco or tobacco products, upon review and approval by the Office of Research Integrity in consultation with the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost.
  • Smoking and/or tobacco use for traditional ceremonial activities of recognized cultural and/or religious groups upon review and written pre-approval by the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost of a submitted written request for exception.

Smoke, like any other air contaminant, must be controlled. It is required that all requests for exceptions be reviewed by the director of Environmental Health and Safety  and campus Fire Marshall.

Non-Permitted Items and Activities

All forms of tobacco, including but not limited to:

  • Cigarettes
  • Cigars
  • Little Cigars
  • Chewing Tobacco
  • Pipes
  • Snuff
  • Hookahs
  • Any electronic device (e-cig, Juul) that delivers nicotine or other substances to the person inhaling from the device, including, but not limited to, an electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic pipe, or electronic hookah

Tobacco use smoking, heating, absorbing, chewing, dissolving, ingesting, inhaling, sniffing, snorting, or consuming by any other means.

Smoking refers to inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying any lighted, heated, or ignited cigar, cigarette, cigarillo, pipe, hookah, electronic device, or any other device that delivers nicotine or other substances to an individual. This includes the use of any electronic smoking device that creates an aerosol or a 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.

Additional Restrictions

The policy also applies to the use of a brand, corporate name, trademark, logo, symbol, motto, or selling message that is identifiable with those used for any brand of tobacco product or company manufacturing tobacco, including electronic smoking devices.