It’s now illegal to smoke in Eugene, Ore. parks and natural areas, as the city’s ban went into effect yesterday after being approved earlier this month.

All forms of tobacco use as well as electronic cigarettes and vaping devices are prohibited, as is the smoking of marijuana, which is legal under Oregon law for recreational use. The city will begin a three-month educational campaign to inform park users of the new policy before enforcement begins in earnest come August. While the city is seeking voluntary compliance, it will enforce the new law that can earn a violator a citation for a misdemeanor.

Eugene is located approximately 111 miles south of Portland and is the second most populous city in the state. It is also home to the University of Oregon.

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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.