Mayor Coffman Introduces Proclamation Supporting Establishments Going Smoke-free
Beech Grove, IN – Tonight, a proclamation from Mayor Jim Coffman recognized Beech Grove bars and clubs that have elected to go smoke-free.
Gov. Newsom, Legislature Fail to Protect Californians’ Health and Right to Breathe Smoke-free Air
September 30, 2024
Sacramento, Calif. – Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1775 today. The legislation will allow cities and counties to permit cannabis consumption sites to prepare and sell food and beverages that do not contain cannabis, effectively turning them into restaurants where smoking is allowed.
The following is a statement from Jim Knox, California managing director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN):
“As the nation’s leading cancer patient advocacy organization, ACS CAN is deeply disappointed that the California Legislature and Gov. Newsom prioritized the marihuana industry's interests over public health. AB 1775 violates Proposition 64, which explicitly states that smoking marijuana is prohibited wherever smoking tobacco is prohibited. It also undermines the state’s smoke-free restaurants law and compromises its enforcement, thus threatening to roll back decades of hard-won protections of everyone’s right to breathe clean, smoke-free air.
“ACS CAN volunteers across the state strongly urged Gov. Newsom to veto the bill to uphold smoke-free laws, which have played a pivotal role in slashing smoking rates and reducing tobacco use initiation, especially among youth, bringing overall tobacco use to historically low levels. Notably, smoke-free laws have helped create a cultural shift around smoking indoors.
“Secondhand marijuana smoke has many of the same carcinogens and toxic chemicals as secondhand tobacco smoke and has higher levels of fine particulate matter, which can cause cardiovascular disease, lung irritation, asthma attacks and make respiratory infections more likely.
“We will continue to work to maintain smoke-free environments and urge local jurisdictions to resist efforts that would undermine our history of smoke-free restaurants and roll back critical public health protections.”
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