tobacco

Commissioners discuss tobacco ban in Ironwood city parks

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 22:12:46 +0000

The city of Ironwood in the Upper Peninsula could soon join a handful of Michigan cities that ban smoking in city parks.

On Monday, city commissioners met to discuss a proposal that would ban all tobacco use in Ironwood city parks.

Michigan ranks 42nd nationally in funding smoking prevention

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 22:13:25 +0000

Michigan ranks among the worst states for funding anti-smoking programs.

Each year, the state collects over one billion dollars in tobacco taxes and settlement money from a 1998 tobacco company lawsuit.

A new report by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids says Michigan only spends one tenth of one percent of that money on programs that reduce or prevent smoking.

As a result, the state has been ranked 42nd in spending money to keep kids away from cigarettes.

Michigan's smoking ban did not hurt restaurants and bars, according to study

Steve Carmody — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 22:43:27 +0000

A new study suggests Michigan’s two-year-old public workplace smoking ban has had little effect on the state’s bar and restaurant industry.

Michigan Senate adds exemption to workplace smoking ban

Rick Pluta — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 20:50:00 +0000

The state Senate has amended a budget bill to add a new exception to Michigan’s workplace smoking ban.

The Senate version of the human services budget would prohibit spending money to enforce the smoking ban against an annual charity cigar dinner in Traverse City and other events like it.

Republican state Senator Howard Walker sponsored the budget amendment.

"It has to do with non-profits that have been in business for over 10 years for their charity which will help some of the needy folks in the community,” Walker said.

Specifically, the amendment would allow the Father Fred Foundation cigar dinner to go forward without running the risk of a citation.

Organizers have been trying to find away around the smoking ban since 2010.

Right now, the only exceptions to the smoking ban are the casinos in Detroit and on tribal land.

Anti-smoking groups oppose the exception.

Grim but blunt anti-smoking ads showing early signs of success

Lindsey Smith — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:59:18 +0000

A new national ad campaign to get people to quit smoking is already showing dramatic results in Michigan.

The Center for Disease Control launched the ads two weeks ago. They feature former smokers who’ve had heart attacks, strokes or parts of their bodies amputated because of tobacco use.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GEWky9PEroU

Angela Minicuci is with the Michigan Department of Community Health. She says the number of calls coming into the Michigan Tobacco Quitline (1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669) has skyrocketed.

“We’ve had a 200-percent increase in the two weeks since the campaign has launched and that’s not something that we’ve ever seen before,” Minicuci said. She said the early results are similar across the country.