The American Lung Association of Arizona, the American Cancer Society and American Heart Association came together to launch an exploratory campaign for a statewide voter initiative in Arizona to prohibit smoking in all enclosed public places and workplaces.
The “Smoke-Free Arizona” initiative uses language from the 11 other states with smoke-free policies and municipalities in Arizona that have already adopted smoke-free regulations.
Originally, the organizations involved tried to get the legislature to pass a bill, but that process was too compromising for an issue such as this one, Bill J. Pfeifer, president and CEO of the American Lung Association of Arizona and New Mexico, said.
“You can't really compromise on this; it has to be all or nothing,” he said. “The nature of the legislative process is give-and-take - compromise - but on this issue you can't do that.”
Petitioners for the Graham-Greenlee areas are needed, and citizens can sign up to be a petitioner at www.smokefreearizona.org. Only registered voters can sign a petition, and it must be witnessed. Turner said he hopes to have 180,000 signatures, which would give them the amount needed after doubles and other errors are weeded out. With those signatures, an initiative will be on the ballot in 2006.
The initiative would prohibit smoking in enclosed public places and places of employment including offices, health care facilities, retail stores, nursing homes, licensed child care facilities, sports arenas, hotels and motels, restaurants, bars and bowling alleys.
It would not prevent smoking in retail tobacco stores, patios outside businesses, private veteran and fraternal clubs, Native American religious ceremonies and half of motel and hotel rooms that would be designated for smoking guests.
“The initiative provides a base - a broad restriction on smoking in Arizona,” Pfeifer said. “It does not, however, mean that jurisdictions cannot make stricter laws concerning smoking in public places.”
Outdoor smoking areas, while not restricted, would have to be a reasonable distance from an enclosed area. Smoking areas cannot be in the main path to the enclosed area, as well.
Pfeifer, joined by Smoke-Free Arizona Campaign Manager Justin D. Turner and public relations representative Troy Corder, is traveling to communities across Arizona to speak to the media and public officials about the initiative.
Random polls of registered voters have also been conducted and show that 75 percent of the registered voters would be in favor of this initiative.
“We are finding that even smokers are in favor of this,” Corder said. “They want to smoke, but they agree that others shouldn't have to inhale their secondhand smoke.”
According to the Smoke-free Arizona fact sheet, exposure to secondhand smoke can lead to several serious health conditions, including heart disease, lung and nasal cancer, asthma, lower respiratory tract infections and retarded fetal growth.
“Secondhand smoke contains some of the same chemicals as asbestos, which would shut down a venue if it was exposed,” Turner said. “Secondhand smoke, however, is allowed to pollute the lungs of the general public unchecked. “
Contact Lindsey Stockton at 428-2560 (ext. 240) or e-mail her at lindsey@eacourier.com.
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10 comment(s)Rev wrote on Mar 18, 2010 11:24 AM:
CJ BELL wrote on Oct 23, 2009 8:36 PM:
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