Ban on smoking at community college follows a campus trend

"One of these days, they'll ban outdoor smoking." That was a rueful refrain heard a decade or so ago from smokers as they were banished from indoor public spaces and relegated to lawns and building stoops if they wanted to light up. That was prophetic, as it turns out. It has come to pass many places. And by and large, it's been greeted as a welcome trend. The Community College of Baltimore County is the latest higher education institution in the county to ban smoking anywhere on its three main campuses — Catonsville, Essex and Dundalk.

CCBC had previously banned smoking within 25 feet of buildings. It's not just a polite suggestion. Multiple violations could result in a $35 citation. Along with the crackdown, there's a helping hand. CCBC, which has about 70,000 students, will offer smoking cessation classes in the fall. CCBC officials said the college's faculty and staff will be able to attend these classes even during working hours. This wider smoking ban on college campuses is not groundbreaking in the county. Towson University has had a similar prohibition in place since August 2010.

Other campuses have less stringent rules — in 2008, theUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore County, banned smoking within 20 feet of building openings — but colleges are increasingly embracing the no-smoking policies. It's a trend that ought to be supported, and one that targets smokers at a time when they might be more able to kick the habit — and save themselves the expense and health risks of smoking. Attitudes toward smoking have changed dramatically in the space of a few generations, largely the result of research that show the consequences of not just sucking smoke into your lungs, but also for being in the vicinity of someone doing it.

For example, according to the American Cancer Society, of the 160,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States, 3,400 are the result of nonsmokers exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke. Adults are still free to smoke. More and more, however, those who choose to puff and the toxic cloud around them will have to find a place away from the rest of us.

Kingman Column: Smoking out city policy

http://aboutcigarettes.blog.com - site about cigarettes and tobacco manufacturers.

Have you figured out how you feel about smoking in Kingman parks, especially now that they are smoke-free? Voluntarily, that is. Perhaps you recall the June 11 story in the Miner, the follow-up to the KYCBUTT effort to have smoking outlawed in the parks. City Council didn't go along, but the meeting did serve as motivation to Parks and Recreation to set up places for smokers to dispose of cigarette biutts. The receptacles are long tubes.

There's no fire danger when used correctly, and no chance at all for scroungers who want to finish off an already-been-smoked cigarette that might have a puff or two of tobacco left. Parks and Rec plans to spend over $5,000 to buy and install these receptacles for all the parks, and that's a good idea. As a former smoker, I'm well aware that options were few when it comes to disposing of lit cigarettes in Kingman parks. I'd wiggle out the remaining tobacco, step on it to snuff live embers, then pocket the butt until I came across a trash can.

 Others were less concerned with the landscape. That's why it's a good idea to have permanent butt bins. I do have a problem with the signs that come with the receptacles, though. Council did not vote to ban smoking in parks, but you'd never know it when you read "Please help keep your parks clean and smoke-free" right next to the receptacle. As a matter of fact, I can see those signs leading to problems when militant non-smokers who think there is a ban speak up.

 A simpler message - "Park Your Butts Here" - gets my vote as the better choice. I also like, "Nanny state? Not here, buddy, so smoke 'em if you've got 'em." Or how about, "Remember cigarettes advertising they were 'doctor-recommended.' If you can and you're still alive, you might as well keep smoking." Anyway, a tip of the hat to Council for doing the right thing by not doing anything.

How Will the Cigarette Tax Hike Affect You?

The per-price pack increased Sunday when the state tax more than doubled on them, thanks to a measure recently signed by Gov. Pat Quinn. The tax boost, which goes from the long-standing 98 cents a pack to $1.98, is expected to create an estimated $350 million in revenue while hopefully forcing some state residents to quit the habit, the Chicago Tribune reports. Read the full Chicago Tribune for more details about the cigarette tax increase.

But this could force state residents to buy their smokes from neighboring states and drop overall cigarette sales by about 20 percent, the Tribune report stated. Because of the lower tobacco tax rate in Will County, outlets or gas stations along 183rd Street in Tinley that sell cigarettes could see more Cook County customers crossing the borders to save money. Signs posted Saturday at the Speedway near 183rd Street and Harlem read "Stock up on cigarettes! Tax increase goes into effect tonight!"

Itasca tobacco shop employees charged in synthetic drug sting

Two employees of an Itasca tobacco shop were arrested after an undercover investigation into the sale of synthetic marijuana, which has been banned in Illinois, police said Tuesday. Sureshbhai Patel, 53, of Des Plaines, and James Barker, 28, of Itasca, were charged after police searched Itasca Tobacco, 1215 W. Irving Park Road, according to a news release.

Narcotics investigators with the DuPage Metropolitan Enforcement Group said they informed Patel, the store manager, late last year of a state law change in January banning synthetic marijuana, and he signed a document stating he understood. In February, officers learned Itasca Tobacco was again selling the drug, police said. They said they subsequently conducted a series of undercover purchases before executing a search warrant Monday. DuMeg Director Matt Gainer said police seized about 75 grams of synthetic pot.

He said Patel stored the inventory off-site and did not display it inside the store but sold it to interested customers. Patel, of the 2000 block of Pine Street, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, a felony typically punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Barker, of the 6N400 block of Lloyd Street, was charged with felony cocaine possession and misdemeanor obstructing police for allegedly interfering with the search. DuPage County Judge Elizabeth Sexton set bail Tuesday at $30,000 for Patel and $40,000 for Barker, who has prior convictions for armed robbery and is facing an unrelated driving under the influence charge in DuPage. Patel posted $3,000 to bond out of the county jail. Barker remained in custody as of Tuesday afternoon.

Cigars may find exemption

A pair of bills in Congress may contain language that would allow manufacturers of premium cigars to claim they are exempt from FDA regulation. The bills, introduced by Rep. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, and Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., would only exempt premium cigars from FDA regulation. In 2009 Congress gave the FDA the power to regulate all tobacco products. The FDA intends to exercise that power on not just cigarettes, but other products. The FDA is working on a proposed rule to regulate other tobacco categories, said FDA spokeswoman Jenny Haliski.

She declined to comment on the specifics of the regulations, when the rule would be released and whether premium tobacco would be included. If the FDA regulates cigars similarly to cigarettes, they could include higher taxes and more strict labeling requirements. Advocates of the bills say premium cigars aren’t like other tobacco products — they’re the heavier, higher-quality, more expensive brands that adults smoke occasionally, for pleasure or to celebrate a special occasion. The House version has more than 200 co-sponsors, while the Senate bill is backed by at least 10 senators.
 But opponents contend companies that make cheaper cigars and market to children could easily manipulate their products to qualify. The bills define a premium cigar as “any roll of tobacco that is wrapped in leaf tobacco, contains no filter, and weighs at least 6 pounds per 1,000 count.’’ Many cheaper cigars, like flavored Swisher cigarillos with colorful packaging that could appeal to teens, don’t have a filter and meet the weight requirement. Premium cigars are wrapped in a whole tobacco leaf., while the cheaper, Machine-made cigars are wrapped in paper that often is made from reconstituted tobacco leaf. Because the bill does not say “whole tobacco leaf,” Anti-tobacco activists argue that companies making cigars wrapped in a paper that is made from tobacco could claim exemption. Anyone familiar with cigars, though, knows that “leaf tobacco” means the same thing as whole tobacco leaf, said John Sullivan, manager of the JR Cigar store in Washington, D.C.

Outdoor smoking ban coming to Suffolk County

Smoking will be banned later this year at parks and beaches in Suffolk County. But a bill passed this week by the county legislature exempts parking lots, campgrounds and golf courses. Newsday (http://bit.ly/KmRfph ) says there also will be no finds for violators. The resolution was crafted by Legislator William Spencer.

The Centerport Democrat is also a doctor. Spencer — faced with making compromises in his legislation — decided on parks and beaches because a lot of children go there. The ban takes effect 90 days after the bill is signed by County Executive Steve Bellone and filed with the state.

Daytona urges stores to stop selling flavored tobacco

Daytona Beach commissioners voted on a resolution this month urging retailers to stop the sale and marketing of flavored tobacco products within city limits. Susan Cerbone, Daytona Beach public information officer, said one of the reasons the commissioners supported the resolution is because “tobacco use is the number one cause of preventable deaths in the United States and nearly 90 percent of users start before the age of 18.” “While the resolution is not an outright ban on sales, it sends a clear message that Daytona Beach cares about its youth,” Cerbone said. Young smokers According to information obtained by the Daytona Times, in Volusia County, 12.2 percent of middle school students and 26.3 percent of high school students reported using some form of tobacco one or more times in the past 30 days.

 Also in Volusia County, 7.4 percent of middle school students and 16 percent of high school students report having smoked cigarettes one or more times in the past 30 days. Health department pleased Dr. Bonnie J. Sorensen, director of the Volusia County Health Department, says the agency is pleased that the city has adopted a resolution urging tobacco retailers to stop selling and marketing candy-flavored tobacco products. All of the convenience stores surveyed sell the candy-flavored products stores in Volusia County. “Daytona Beach joins a growing list of municipalities taking a stand against candy-flavored tobacco products. There are 88 people dying daily in the state of Florida from tobacco-related illnesses. Tobacco use is the number one cause of preventable death in the United States,” said Sorensen, who also spoke before the city commissioners voted on the resolution.

 Impact on Blacks Stefany Strong, spokesperson for the Volusia County Health Department, said each year approximately 45,000 African-Americans die from a preventable smoking-related disease, which represents more than 10 percent of the estimated yearly smoking related deaths in the U.S. Strong also noted that smoking is responsible for 87 percent of lung cancers. African-American men are at least 50 percent more likely to develop lung cancer than White men. Blacks disproportionately suffer from chronic and preventable disease compared to White Americans. And of the three major causes of death in African-Americans – heart disease, cancer and stroke – smoking and other tobacco use are key contributors to these illnesses, Strong elaborated.

 Resolution includes flavored cigars Signed on June 6 by Mayor Glenn Ritchey, the resolution urges all local retailers who sell tobacco products to cease the sale and marketing of all flavored tobacco products, which are defined as loose tobacco, including snuff flour, plug and twist tobacco, fine cuts, chewing tobacco, snus, shisha tobacco, smoking or snuffing tobacco products. The resolution also limits “all other kinds and forms of tobacco, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco products, and blunt wraps prepared in such a manner with the purpose of chewing, inhaling, smoking, or ingesting in any manner which have been flavored through the addition of natural or artificial flavorings, herbs, spices, or other means with flavors characterizing fruit, candy, alcohol, or other similar flavorings with the exception that menthol will not be included in this definition.’’ Other information provided by the health department to persuade commissioners to support the resolution include:

• Ninety percent of today’s smokers started before they were 18 years old.
• Candy and fruit flavors mask the bad taste of tobacco, making it easier for kids to start using tobacco products. 
• These products containing flavors like vanilla, orange, chocolate, cherry and coffee are especially attractive to youth. 
• Young people are much more likely to use candy and fruit flavored products than adults. Tobacco industry documents show that companies have designed these products with youth in mind. 
• Flavored cigars, cigarillos, bidis, shisha, snus, blunts and smokeless tobacco are just as harmful as flavored cigarettes and are heavily marketed to youth. 


 City commissioners in Port Orange, Holly Hill, Deltona and New Smyrna Beach also have voted to urge retailers to stop selling candy-flavored tobacco products. The Volusia County Health Department initially made a presentation to the Volusia Council of Governments earlier this year requesting that it asks local cities to adopt resolutions urging tobacco retailers to stop the sale and marketing of candy-flavored tobacco.