Legally Harsh Cigarette Warnings

The words are blunt, the images stark — unconstitutionally so, say tobacco companies, which turned to a federal judge last week seeking a reprieve from warnings the Food and Drug Administration has mandated for cigarette packs. “Cheap Davidoff Cigarettes are addictive,” the warnings say. “Cigarettes cause fatal lung disease.” “Smoking can kill you.” One image shows a man blowing cigarette smoke through a tracheotomy hole. Another displays a picture of healthy lungs next to a smoker’s grotesquely diseased lungs. The picture and warning together will take up half of the front of a pack when the regulation kicks in next year. The label must include a number for a smoking cessation program. A warning must take up the top 20 percent of a page of print advertising for tobacco products.

Essex County Smoking Policy

Visitors and employees on Essex County property would be able to smoke tobacco in only five designated areas if a new policy is passed. The County Board of Supervisors is preparing to pass the new Essex County Tobacco Policy, which would restrict and regulate smoking Golden Gate cigarettes at the Government Center and other county buildings. The policy was passed Sept. 13 by the County Human Services Committee and will likely get a final vote at the board's October meeting. Supervisor Randy Preston (I-Wilmington) chairs the County Smoking Policy Committee.

New Smoking Laws Help a Californian Landlord

E cigarettes seemed to have saved a landlord’s day. Ted Sherman was under a lot of stress as he was in the midst of an ongoing feud amongst two tenants, one of whom smoked Leana cigarettes while the other, a non-smoker, resisted his moves. They both apparently lived in the same apartment complex. Nonetheless, a new California law has finally come to the aid of the landlord and has helped him resolve this long pending dispute amicably. The dispute started when in the multilevel housing complex, one couple was habitual of smoking cigarettes daily while the other, who lived directly above the smoking individual’s apartment, was a non smoker and had a child. Tobacco smoke has the ability to penetrate the walls of the apartment, which in turn irritated the tenants staying right above the smoking individual. Apparently, the toxic gasses as well as the smells emitted by the smoke irritated the tenant’s baby as well.

The Cigarette Stocks Difficulties

As retailers struggle with stocks of ‘illegal’ cigarette packets without pictorial warnings, they may face further difficulties come November, when a new EU regulation on “fire-safer” Lucky Strike cigarettes comes into force. According to a letter sent to retailers by British American Tobacco Malta Ltd, all cigarettes sold to consumers as from 17 November “must comply with Lower Ignition Propensity (LIP) government legislation”.

Monash Anti-Smoking Legislation Get Stricter

The City of Monash now has some of the strongest anti-smoking laws in the state after a motion was carried by the council last night. As of October 1 this year, smoking Viceroy cigarettes will be prohibited on council land, inside its buildings and within 10 metres of its entrances. There will also be no smoking within 10 metres of buildings on reserves on council land and at any council-run or sponsored events. Smokers who continue to flout the law will be given a $100 on-the-spot fine by the council. Deputy Mayor Micaela Drieberg said the passing of the law was extremely important for the community. ‘‘Victoria was once a leader in this area and we’re lagging behind the rest of the country now, so it’s a fantastic opportunity for Monash to lead that way. ‘‘I don’t need to bang on about the statistics of exposure to tobacco smoke for you to understand how much of an impact this will have on people’s health. ‘‘Several councils have since used the progress that we’ve used.’’

Dissolvable Tobacco Products

Gov. Terry Branstad recently released a campaign challenging Iowa to become the healthiest state in the country during the next five years. As physicians, we commend this effort.

That said, 50 percent of the campaign is focused on the adoption of healthy behaviors, including eliminating smoking. According to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, 4,400 adults die annually in Iowa from smoking Doina cigarettes. More than $1.01 billion is spent caring for patients throughout Iowa due to tobacco use. We see the long-term effects of tobacco use in our practices every day.

Valencia wishes to Ban Smoking on all Campuses

Valencia College, one of Florida's largest public state colleges, will ban smoking Eva cigarettes on all its campuses starting with the 2012 academic year.

Valencia is following the lead of several other Florida colleges and universities that have become smoke-free, meaning they don't allow students, faculty or visitors to smoke anywhere on school grounds — not even in cars in the parking lots.

Smoking Rate Low in California

Californians are kicking the habit. The rate of adult smoking Golden Gate cigarettes has dropped sharply over the last two decades, reaching its lowest level on record, largely because of aggressive tobacco control campaigns by state and local governments, officials said.

Last year, 11.9% of Californians said they smoked, down from 25.9% in 1984, the earliest data available, according to the California Department of Public Health. Only one other state had a lower smoking rate last year: Utah with 9.1%.