For decades, British Columbians who want to smoke tobacco have been compelled to follow certain guidelines. Similar regulations came into place when marijuana was legalized in October 2018, and when vaping and e-cigarettes became relatively fashionable, particularly among younger adults.
Research Co. reviewed the current situation related to smoking and vaping in British Columbia. It is safe to say that there has been a significant decline in use.
In 1965, roughly half of Canadians considered themselves “smokers.” This year, just under one in five British Columbians (19 per cent) told us that they smoked tobacco in any form over the past year, a proportion that rises to 24 per cent among men, 35 per cent among northern B.C. residents and 34 per cent among those of Indigenous descent.
Just under one-in-four British Columbians (23 per cent) smoked marijuana over the past year, and a slightly smaller proportion (19 per cent) consumed marijuana in a non-smoking form. About one in six British Columbians (15 per cent) vaped, including 23 per cent of those aged 18-34 and 22 per cent of Conservative Party of B.C. voters in last year’s provincial election.
There is little appetite to tinker with existing regulations related to tobacco. More than four in five British Columbians agree with banning smoking in all public and private K-12 schools (88 per cent); banning smoking in indoor public spaces; public transit facilities and workplaces, including restaurants, bars, and casinos (87 per cent); and banning smoking in private vehicles occupied by children (81 per cent).
The public feels differently about smoking in parks, park areas, seawalls and beaches, with 67 per cent agreeing with a ban and 28 per cent disagreeing with it. While this number shows a significant level of support for an existing guideline, it represents a double-digit drop from the way British Columbians feel about smoking in public places, schools and vehicles with children.
When we ask British Columbians about these same four regulations regarding vaping, the reaction is similar. More than four in five think e-cigarettes should not be used in public and private K-12 schools (88 per cent), in indoor public spaces, public transit facilities and workplaces (84 per cent) or in private vehicles occupied by children (81 per cent).
Once again, the notion of vaping in a seemingly open area is better received, with 66 per cent of British Columbians agreeing with a ban in parks, park areas, seawalls and beaches and 30 per cent disagreeing.
An issue that has been discussed prominently in urban settings is the possibility of banning smoking and vaping in multi-family dwellings. At this point, implementation is in the hands of landlords and strata corporations, who can designate apartments and balconies as “smoke free” as part of tenancy agreements.
More than seven in 10 British Columbias would welcome a blanket ban, with 77 per cent supporting the end of smoking (tobacco and marijuana) in multi-family buildings and 73 per cent expressing the same view about e-cigarettes (vaping). Put differently, British Columbians are more likely to endorse the implementation of a ban on smoking and vaping inside an apartment than to endorse the existing one that applies to parks, park areas, seawalls and beaches.
In British Columbia, fewer than a quarter of residents have smoked tobacco, lit up a joint or used an e-cigarette in the past year. We were curious to find out if these habits could play a role in an individual’s chances of finding romance.
Marijuana smokers have the best prospects, with 50 per cent of British Columbians saying they would not consider dating them. The results are a little bit worse for vapers, with 57 per cent of the province’s residents saying they would eschew romance from an individual who used e-cigarettes. Tobacco smokers are at the bottom of the list, with 62 per cent of British Columbians saying they would not consider dating a person who smoked tobacco.
Gender can play a role on whether a habit is a turnoff. We see no fluctuation between men and women on marijuana smokers, but women are more likely to reject both tobacco smokers and vapers (65 per cent and 59 per cent, respectively) than men (58 per cent and 55 per cent, respectively).
Mario Canseco is president of Research Co.
Results are based on an online survey conducted from July 13-15, 2025, among 814 adults in British Columbia. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in British Columbia. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
