BALTIMORE – Earlier this year, Maryland celebrated the 10th anniversary of the passage of it’s Clean Indoor Air Act, which prohibits smoking in nearly all indoor workplaces, including restaurants, bars, and clubs.
Following is a statement from Jocelyn Collins, Maryland’s government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN):
“Improving the health of Maryland residents was at the heart of our efforts to pass our state’s Clean Indoor Air Act in 2008. This law has protected millions of residents and visitors from the proven dangers of secondhand smoke over the last decade. And, it has helped set a healthy example for the young people in our state. Consider that kids under the age of 10 have never been exposed to smoking in indoor public workplaces in our state.
“The Maryland Clean Indoor Air Act remains one of the most important pieces of public health legislation ever passed in this state. ACS CAN is proud to have played a role in making this law a reality and remains committed to advocating for the state to pass evidenced-based public policies that reduce cancer risk and support early detection and treatment for cancer patients.”
ACS CAN recently released a report that measures progress state legislatures are making on implementing nine evidenced-based policies that are proven to reduce the cancer burden. Maryland has earned the highest possible rating in five categories, has made moderate progress in one category and is failing in three categories, including funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs. To view the complete “How Do You Measure Up?” report and details on Maryland’s grades, visit www.fightcancer.org/measure .
The American Cancer Society estimates that 33,810 Marylanders will be diagnosed with cancer this year and 10,780 will die.
About ACS CAN
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.
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