SPRINGFIELD -- The Springfield Housing Authority announced Tuesday that despite the recent legalization of marijuana possession in Massachusetts, it is banning marijuana smoking at all of its public housing sites, buildings and grounds in conjunction with an existing policy that bans indoor and outdoor smoking.

The authority's Board of Commissioners voted unanimously at a recent meeting to add marijuana to its list of smokable items under a ban first imposed in 2012 and amended twice to expand to interior as well as exterior properties and e-cigarettes, a spokeswoman said.

The new rule does not apply to marijuana edibles or prescription forms of the plant which are not smoked. In addition, it does not bar tenants from having smokeable marijuana in their possession, but they cannot smoke it in SHA buildings or on the grounds.

The use of recreational marijuana was approved by voters in Massachusetts on Nov. 8, and took effect Dec. 15, allowing adults, ages 21 and older to possess marijuana.

SHA Executive Director William H. Abrashkin said the regulation is aimed at keeping all SHA buildings and grounds healthy, adding that it is a preference of most residents and staff.

"Although the evidence is that marijuana smoke is far less toxic than tobacco smoke, the smoke can be disagreeable for other residents and interfere with their enjoyment of their homes," Abrashkin said.

"In addition, to young children smoking is smoking, and we are striving to give our kids an example of a healthier lifestyle that will serve them well as they grow up," Abrashkin said. "For these reasons, our policy was amended to include not only smoking tobacco but also marijuana."

A smoking event is treated as a lease violation, with steps leading up to eviction, if necessary, though that is rare, a spokeswoman said.

The Springfield Housing Authority is Massachusetts' second largest housing authority, with 2,397 traditional public housing units located at 27 sites throughout the city, 240 Massachusetts Rental Vouchers, and 2,893 Housing Choice Vouchers.