Cancer Society Wants All-Out Ind. Smoking Ban

(Indianapolis, Ind.) - The American Cancer Society wants Indiana to pass a comprehensive smoking ban with no exemptions.

Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis) has said a statewide smoking ban will be a priority when lawmakers meet for the 2012 session next month. Governor Mitch Daniels said Friday that he would like to see the ban should go into effect before Indianapolis hosts the Super Bowl February 5.

To expedite the passage, a ban would likely include exemptions for casinos, veterans clubs, and cigar bars.

The American Cancer Society released a response Monday calling for a complete workplace smoking ban.

“As the only state in the Midwest without such a law, we recommend that our Indiana legislature look to our neighboring states, and others across the country, for model legislation that is proving smokefree air laws bring significant health and economic benefit to states that pass them,” said Amanda Estridge, manager of government relations for the ACS Great Lakes Division.

 “While the upcoming Super Bowl has created a sense of urgency on this important public health issue for the purpose of getting a bill passed quickly, we caution that there should be no deadline for getting this legislation right. Passing a well-thought-out comprehensive bill that will provide protection to all workers well into the future needs to be the end goal. We hope that a law can be passed by the Super Bowl, however, we understand that businesses need adequate time for implementation.”  

The cancer society said studies have shown that 66 percent of Hoosiers favor a statewide comprehensive smokefree air workplace law.

LINKS:

Daniels Reveals 2012 Legislative Wish List

Super Bowl Could Put Smoking Ban On Fast Track