Boise city officials want to give the public some more time to voice their concerns or support for two proposed ordinance that could dramatically curtail smoking in the City of Trees.
Public testimony on the proposals will be taken on Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 4 p.m., in addition to the already-scheduled hearing set for later that day at 6 p.m. Both hearings will be in the City Council chambers at Boise City Hall. Ream more »
Smokers might be in line for a big payday as a jury deliberates a decade-long lawsuit over the perceived safety of light cigarettes.
The case pits smokers against tobacco giant Philip Morris. Damages could amount to $700 million, and anyone in Missouri who smoked Marlboro Light cigarettes will be eligible for thousands of dollars.
It’s taken 11 years for the case to get a jury. They’re deciding if Philip Morris should pay up for deceiving smokers. Ream more »
A BAN on the sale of cigarettes from vending machines will come into force on February 1 in Wales. A similar ban was introduced in England this month.
The Welsh Government last night said the ban would cut off a source of tobacco teenagers.
One in 10 regular smokers aged 11 to 15, say they buy their cigarettes from vending machines.
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Smoking might soon be prohibited permanently in Austin’s city parks, making it the first Central Texas city to enact such a ban. City Council Members Laura Morrison , Mike Martinez and Kathie Tovo are proposing the idea, saying cigarettes pose wildfire and health risks, and often end up as litter.
Since April, the city has imposed a temporary burn ban on city parkland – including golf courses, swimming pools and hiking trails – that prevents visitors from smoking and using wood or charcoal for barbecue pits and grilling. The new proposal would permanently ban smoking in those areas. Ream more »
Never before have more Americans believed legalizing marijuana was the right course for the country.
In a new Gallup poll, 50 percent of respondents in a nationwide survey said they believed it was time to make pot legal. About 46 percent came out against it.
Support for legalizing marijuana tended to be stronger among younger, more liberal groups, according to Gallup. Legalization received 62 approval among those aged 18 to 29, but got only 31 percent approval among those 65 and older. Ream more »
Nebraska state troopers seized 68 pounds of marijuana over the weekend in three separate traffic stops on Interstate-80.
In the early morning Sunday, a trooper stopped an eastbound 2011 Chevy Sunset for speeding near the I-80 Odessa exit. The trooper obtained consent to search the vehicle, Nebraska State Patrol spokeswoman Deb Collins said.
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Health advocates sparred with bar owners, smokers and Libertarians at a public hearing Monday about a proposed smoke-free ordinance for all public places in Augusta. The law could get approval as early as today.Commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle and Mayor Pro Tem Joe Bowles, who attended the hearing, said they thought the proposed ordinance was on the Augusta Commission agenda today, though it did not show up on the version posted on the city’s Web site. Read more
Smoking bins being installed at the Greymouth railway station are being partly funded by British American Tobacco.
The West Coast Tobacco Coalition, which was made aware of the link, has written to KiwiRail asking it to reconsider the deal and the Grey District Council has cancelled an order. Keep New Zealand Beautiful announced the bin deal on on September 30. The press release did not mention the link with the international tobacco giant.
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Prefer to prohibit puffing in parks and other public places outdoors? That’s what the City of Kirkland is asking, inviting the public to take an on-line survey about all tobacco use in Kirkland’s parks, playgrounds, sports fields and on its trails.
And the city is not just blowing smoke. The Kirkland Parks and Community Services Department is taking the survey in conjunction with other cities and King County Parks, which recently received a federal “Communities Putting Prevention to Work” (CPPW) grant.
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