The parks of Gresham, Ore. are officially going smoke free today, but park users will get a six-month reprieve from a fine should they light up.

On May 16, the Gresham City Council approved a ban on the use of all forms of tobacco as well as e-cigarettes, vaporizers, and hookahs in city parks, trails, or open space areas. The only exception is for the smoking of non-commercial tobacco products for ceremonial purposes in spaces designated for traditional ceremonies in accordance with the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, as well as for similar religious ceremonial uses for other cultural groups.

While the ban officially went into effect 30 days after its passage, a provision was written in that enforcement of shall not occur until six months after its effective date, so as to allow time for staff to educate the public about the prohibitions.

Once that six month period expires, violators of the ban can face a fine of up to $500.

Gresham is located in northwestern Oregon, approximately 15 miles east of Portland.

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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.