Smoking Ban for Buildings, Kitzhaber Issues

Smoking and other tobacco use will be barred at most state buildings and grounds, including prisons, under an executive order issued Thursday by Gov. John Kitzhaber, who is a physician. “Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Oregon. The human and financial costs are simply too high,” Kitzhaber said in a statement. “By promoting a healthy environment for state employees, clients and visitors, we can create an environment that reduces tobacco use and protects health.”

Smoking Banned in all Recreation Areas, Passaic Council

The City Council on Tuesday night introduced a sweeping ordinance to ban smoking in all municipal buildings, parks and recreation areas. The ordinance, which was introduced by a unanimous vote, would ban smoking inside and outside all municipal buildings, and would impose fines of up to $1,000 on serial violators. If the ordinance is adopted, the city will become the 11th municipality in Passaic County to prohibit smoking on public property. Bloomingdale, Clifton, Hawthorne, Little Falls, Paterson, Prospect Park, Ringwood, Wanaque, West Milford, and Woodland Park have already adopted similar smoking bans.

Smoking Drivers Banned

Ii was music to my ears this week to learn that a number of Senators are working to introduce legislation which will finally make it illegal for adults to smoke with children in cars. It's appalling that this selfish and dangerous act has not already been outlawed. At the time that the smoking ban in pubs and restaurants was introduced it should have been a no-brainer however eight years later, parents are still free to drive and puff regardless of their young passengers.

Smoking Ban Looks Like a Good Idea

On the surface, a smoking ban looks like a good idea, that is if the Dunhill smokers want to lose a little bit of their freedom. There are a number of things that we should or shouldn't do, but we don't have the willpower to stop doing them. So it gets down to freedoms.

Government wants the kids to stop texting while driving; maybe adults should be restricted also. You know, for safety reasons. Is the government going to also restrict using the cell phone while in a moving car? And why is it that old people love to have their dog sitting in their lap while they drive their cars? By the way, when will the law be enacted to stop fat people from super-sizing their meals at fast-food restaurants? I bet McDonalds doesn't want to see that legislation.

Dutch no-smoking drive takes a hit

It's getting surprisingly easy to light up in the Netherlands these days — cheap Leana cigarettes, that is. Even as the Dutch government hardens its famous tolerance policy on marijuana, it is taking an increasingly relaxed stance toward tobacco, bucking the trend in nearly every other developed country.