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Home Front: Culture Wars

Statewide smoking ban starts on July 1

2010-02-27

Kansas will go smoke-free indoors on July 1, after a narrow vote Thursday sent a smoking ban to the governor's desk.

The ban includes restaurants, bars, workplaces and other public spaces. It would permit smoking in a few places, including private clubs, tobacco shops and the gaming floors of state-owned casinos.

It overrides less-strict local smoking bans, including Wichita's partial ban.

"You are making a legacy vote to let all Kansans breathe clean air," said Rep. Charlie Roth, R-Salina, who carried the bill onto the House floor, shortly before the 68-54 vote.

The Senate had passed the bill, Senate substitute for House Bill 2221, during the last session.

Gov. Mark Parkinson, a Democrat, pushed for the ban to pass this year and called the vote a victory.

"Today's success took many years and many struggles, but thanks to a bipartisan coalition in the legislature, the tireless efforts of our state's health advocates and the support of the Kansas people, this legislation will soon become law," he said in a written statement.

The news didn't go over well at the Heritage Restaurant in south Wichita, which has been able to allow smoking under Wichita's partial ban by serving only those 18 and older.

"You should be able to smoke where you want. If people don't like it, they can leave," said Don Kinkade, a retired Wichitan who sat smoking at a table in the restaurant with a nonsmoking pal.

Posted by:Fred

#10 I cant be the only one with no idea what a "shi-shaw club" is. can someone please enlighten?

Posted by: abu do you love 2010-02-27 23:00

#9 This had been on the books for a while now.

The no's are not pro-smoking, but anti-intrusion. I was in contact with my state rep, thats what was told.

Lawrence banned smoking a few years back, same with many other cities. The best solution I found was in Salina where there was no smoking in restaurants, and no smoking in bars until 10:00 then it was ok to smoke. Can't see why that isn't the policy except that it works for everyone. Fine, less SCHIP funds dumbasses. Every time a city has done this they sit around next fiscal year and scratch ass wondering why tax revenue is down (not just cigs, but those things associated with people who smoke who now tend to just stay home instead of going out to spend money). Another interesting side effect is the new mess of butts which will appear outside of every business which used to allow smoking.

As kofi mentioned: As for the flavor flav variety, Lawrence long known for its tolerance of mari has also recently closed down shops which sell tobacco accessaries. Surprise hippies, ya fell for it. Nobody says anything, including many smokers, because it is well stinky and gross..but soon you will see a tax on sugar/soda, fast food etc because the foot is in the door that others know better for you.

I feel I will see the day where I can go down to the store and buy marlboro greens, but have to do business with the gangs to get a pack of smokes.

*Anecdote - not long after the Lawrence smoking ban a shi-shaw club opened up in downtown Lawrence. It didn't last long, but I ask how it was opened in the first place?

Posted by: swksvolFF 2010-02-27 21:38

#8 And I'm thinking about posting in triplicate.

Posted by: Mizzou Mafia 2010-02-27 17:16

#7 5 years ago, I would have been against this, but living in Europe, I've experienced it.

Estonia has had these laws in place for several years.

Before, I was a social smoker (bummed them), now, I don't.

I don't come back from bars having to wash everything I've worn.

The bars I frequent have a smoke room (with seperate ventilation), so if you want to light up, you can.

Posted by: Mizzou Mafia 2010-02-27 17:15

#6 5 years ago, I would have been against this, but living in Europe, I've experienced it.

Estonia has had these laws in place for several years.

Before, I was a social smoker (bummed them), now, I don't.

I don't come back from bars having to wash everything I've worn.

The bars I frequent have a smoke room (with seperate ventilation), so if you want to light up, you can.

Posted by: Mizzou Mafia 2010-02-27 17:15

#5 Future News - dateline June 30, 2010: Photograph shows a Kansas Smoker on the day before the smoking ban goes into effect.

Posted by: Snavimble Dark Lord of the Huns2650 2010-02-27 12:18

#4 One thing at a time, Kofi, one thing at a time.

15 years ago, my daughter (now an attorney) was writing a paer on how second-hand smoke was worse than primary smoke. Logic failed. I was an idiot.

Posted by: Bobby 2010-02-27 10:22

#3 Related information:

Is obama making flavored tobacco products illegal?
someone told me that obama is trying to take bluntwraps and flavored cigars off the market, that seems like a terrible idea. and besides, who actually smokes grape dutches, 99% of people who buy flavored blunts roll 'em up w the special ingredient. same w bluntwraps. it seems that hes going after potheads.

June 2009, Family Smoking Act:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd
Enacted. Made flavored CIGARETTE tobaccos illegal. Requires warnings on packages with graphic pictures by the end of 2010. The link that I gave has links to see which Senators and Congressmen voted for/against the bill.

As you can see, this does not effect flavored cigars or flavored pipe tobaccos. YET. That might come in the future since this administration is attacking tobacco users. Besides the Family Smoking Act, this administration has also introduced/passed the following in the last 12 months:

February 2009, SCHIP tax increase:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd
Enacted. Raised federal taxes on packs of cigarettes from 0.39 to $1.01 and raised taxes on loose cigarette tobacco from $1.10 per pound to $24.78 per pound. Raised the federal taxes on pipe tobacco from $1.10 to $2.83.

May 2009, PACT Act:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd
Passed House but Senate made their own version (almost identical). The Senate version passed committee in November 2009 but has not been voted on yet. This Act will make it illegal to mail tobacco which will eliminate all phone and internet sales. This is expected to pass in the Senate and the president has said that he will sign it into law. This is the Senate version:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd

January 2010, Raise the tax on Pipe tobacco
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd
Introduced. This will raise the tax on pipe tobacco from $2.83 per pound to $24.78 per pound. Please remember that many pipe tobaccos retail for less than $25 a pound so it would be taxed at more than 100% of the retail value. This is just the Federal tax---states have their own state taxes on pipe tobacco already (Texas has a $17 per pound state tax on pipe tobacco which is used to pay for schooling for doctors)

Each of these bills include more than what I typed. That's why I provided links. As you can see, our current administration is attacking tobacco users. This is only in the last 12 months. It wouldn't surprise me if they decided to attack cigar smokers in the near future. However, so far, they haven't.

It's just a matter of time. Tobacco users are very divided so they are easy for the government to conquer. When the government attacks cigarette smokers, the pipe and cigar community sits and does nothing. When the government attacks the pipe smokers, the cigarette and cigar people do nothing. So how many cigarette and pipe users are going to stand up for the rights of cigar users? If all tobacco users stood up for each other, the government wouldn't be able to take away their freedoms as easily.

Posted by: Kofi Glerong6731 2010-02-27 10:04

#2 ...and the gaming floors of state-owned casinos.

and we don't want to interfere with the tax stream.

Posted by: Procopius2k 2010-02-27 09:43

#1 To put this in context, some nightclubs try to go private after such laws are passed, and are met with the most bitter recriminations, "How dare they try to *evade* the law!"

This sort of gives the game away, that this is less about non-smokers rights, and more about denying pleasure to smokers.

Posted by: Anonymoose 2010-02-27 08:45

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