Some Colorado residents are angry with a company’s decision to produce marijuana-shaped candy.
The confections called “Pot Head Ring Pots” and “Pot Head Lollipops” are being sold at about one-thousand stores across the country by novelty supply company Kalan LP in Pennsylvania.
The candies feature drawings of young people smoking on the wrapper. Ream more »
Australia is likely to become the first country to legally require cigarettes to be sold in plain packaging. The legislation enforces a standardised olive-green packaging with gruesome images and health warnings. Australia’s Labour government considers this policy “very courageous.”
The tobacco companies are involved in a last-minute effort to obtain the government’s internal legal advice via proceedings in the Australian High Court, hoping that it may influence the ongoing debate. Ream more »
Boston is set to become the first big city in Massachusetts – and the largest in the nation – to ban smoking in public housing, beginning in September 2012.
In the next few weeks, about 25,000 tenants will receive letters announcing that their buildings will be smoke-free and that they will have to agree to the new policy when they sign their annual leases. The policy is aimed at protecting nonsmokers, especially children, from breathing in secondhand cigarette smoke from neighboring units, which can cause asthma attacks, respiratory infections, lung cancer, and heart disease.
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A proposed ordinance could snuff out smoking and the use of all tobacco products in Vancouver parks.
Vancouver parks already have voluntary no-smoking zones in some parks, particularly around playgrounds; the ordinance would totally prohibit cigarettes, chew, smokeless cigarettes and any other tobacco products.
The potential code change comes with a slew of updates to the city’s parks ordinances, last updated 40 years ago, Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation Department Director Pete Mayer told the Vancouver City Council on Monday night. Ream more »
Acupuncture is still contentious and it has been around for thousands of years. Anyway, individuals who have faith in acupuncture say that it is excellent for the dispelling of addictions such as nicotine addiction. However, it ought to be borne in mind that many doctors do not have faith in this alternative kind of medicine saying that it is no better than sticking pins in the skin at random.
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Committees advocating or opposing efforts to put controversial medical marijuana and eminent domain laws on the 2012 ballot as referendums have filed financial reports.
Patients for Reform-Not Repeal, based in Helena, obtained the needed signatures to let voters next year decide whether to reject or keep the stricter medical marijuana laws enacted by the Legislature this year.
Real Montanans for Fair Land Use, based in Belgrade, Ream more »
Health statistics show the state had 100,000 fewer adult smokers from 2001 to 2010, according to a survey analysis released Tuesday.
At a time when Oklahoma often comes out on the wrong end of studies and surveys, the executive director of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust said she and other health authorities are encouraged by the results.
“It’s a wonderful day. I hoped we would see this day,” said Tracey Strader, executive director of the organization. Ream more »
The St. Edward’s University Student Government Association passed a resolution that would explore whether a smoking ban would be favorable on campus.
The goal of legislative resolution S.R. 104, titled “Exploring Smoking at St. Edward’s University,” is to initiate discussion about smoking on campus. Senator Octavio Sanchez authored the resolution, which was sponsored by Senator Curran Kelley. SGA passed this resolution. Ream more »
Norway’s left-center government wants to further crack down on smoking and is proposing a string of measures to tighten existing laws. Smokers and even some non-smokers are fired up over what they see as another regulatory assault.
Current laws have banned or highly restricted smoking indoors for years. Now newspaper Dagsavisen reports that the government also wants to ban smoking outdoors, for example at the entrances to public buildings and in the outdoor areas of bars, Ream more »
Banning tobacco won unanimous support from Montana State University leaders last week, but on Monday opinion was still split among students, professors and employees.
A noon public forum saw a lively debate over individuals’ right to be free of government dictates versus individuals’ right to a clean and healthy environment.
About two dozen people attended the forum, sponsored by the MSU Leadership Institute, MSU political science department, Montana PBS and Associated Students of MSU. Ream more »