HELENA, Mont. –– Cancer patients, survivors, caregivers and advocates from throughout the state call on lawmakers to honor the Montana Clean Indoor Air Act and vote to kill Senate Bill 150 today after it narrowly passed second reading on Tuesday, 51-49. The bill would allow cigar smoking in restaurants, bars and gaming facilities that are currently smoke-free. The bill is one vote away from potentially eroding a bedrock piece of state health legislation.
“The Montana Clean Indoor Air Act is a crucial part of the foundation of our healthy state,” American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Montana Grassroots Manager Katharine Sutphen said. “Montanans have had the benefit of clean indoor air for the past 20 years. The next generation deserves that as well. This bill will leave workers and patrons exposed to secondhand smoke.”
State polling shows that 89% of Montana voters across the political spectrum support the Clean Indoor Air Act and 77% oppose allowing cigar smoking in bars. Everyone has the right to breathe clean, smoke-free air regardless of where they live, work, or play. Nobody should have to choose between a job and long-term health, which is clearly put at greater risk with any exposure to carcinogens.
Allowing cigar smoking in enclosed public places in our state would be a step backwards for the health of Montanans. Secondhand smoke from cigars poses significant health risks to people who smoke and those around them. There is simply no way that allowing cigar smoking does anything but move Montana’s quality of life backward and provide a gift to Big Tobacco.