PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, Md. – June 19, 2017 – Prince George’s County Council is considering a bill that will allow smoking in certain clubs in the county. Following is a statement from Bonita Pennino, Maryland’s government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN):
“ACS CAN is stunned that the Prince George’s County Council is considering exposing our citizens to carcinogens where they work, eat and enjoy entertainment. For more than a decade, the state of Maryland and Prince George’s County have chosen to protect the public from the proven hazards of secondhand tobacco smoke. Yet, Prince George’s County officials are threatening to ignore irrefutable scientific evidence and expose people at certain clubs to more than 7,000 chemicals, including hundreds that are classified as toxic.
“Keeping all Maryland workplaces smoke-free – including all those in Prince George’s County – is the most effective way to maintain the health of workers and businesses alike. Smoke-free laws decrease absenteeism among non-smoking employees, increase productivity, reduce housekeeping and maintenance costs, lower insurance rates and lower the risk of fires.
“Our clean indoor act is overwhelmingly popular throughout the state because it protects everyone’s right to breathe smoke-free air in all workplaces, including restaurants and bars. For this reason, we urge the members of the Prince George’s County Council to protect public health by rejecting this legislation.”
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.