Smoke Free News

January, 2003: Following passage of near total smoking bans in New York City and Boston, Allegheny County Health Department officials considers enacting a similar ban in Allegheny County, but discovers they are preempted by state law.  This is an example of the way such local regulations tend to spread, and of why the tobacco industry puts such a high priority on state preemption.  Support the repeal of preemption!

February 2003: Allentown considers banning smoking in almost all public places, knowing the ban would be challenged on grounds of preemption.

March 2003: New York State passes a ban on workplace smoking even stricter than the one passed in New York City, becoming the 3rd state to do so (after California and Delaware).

April 2003: A study concludes that a workplace smoking ban in Helena, MT resulted in a 60% reduction in hospital admissions for heart attacks during the time it was in effect. 

May 2003: Connecticut becomes the 4th state to make all workplaces smoke free.  The Massachusetts Senate also approved a ban.  Similar legislation is pending in Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont.  Florida is considering how to implement a Constitutional amendment requiring smoke free workplaces enacted by voters last year.  Oklahoma passed a law that will require restaurant smoking sections to be fully enclosed, but not until 2006. 

June 2003: Maine becomes the 5th state to make workplaces smoke free. The Rhode Island Senate health and human services committee voted unanimously to approve a similar ban.  The US Surgeon General is reported to favor a complete ban on tobacco. 

November 2003: Massachusetts becomes the 6th state to make all workplaces smoke free. 

December 2003: New Zealand and Sweeden become the 4th and 5th countries to make workplaces smoke free, joining Ireland, Norway, and Bhutan.  In the US, legislation banning workplace smoking has been introduced in Rhode Island, Maryland, Georgia, Arizona, and Washington.