On Tuesday, Aussies will be paying a "sin tax" on cigarettes, beer, hard liquor, and wine. This comes after increasing taxes for those who make more than $50,000 per year. This is in addition to new taxes on water, electricity and food. <br />
A backlash against a smoking ban on hospital grounds has caused a Scotland hospital to rethink its plans. They are now proposing smoking shelters outdoors. The antis, of course, are not happy, but the people who visit patients certainly will be pleased about it.<br type="_moz" />
Radon gas is the number one cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers. Radon gas is a result of the normal breakdown of uranium in the soil, it has been found in homes in all 50 states and around the world. <br />
The Ritz Carlton in St. Louis was busted when Pat Lindsey, the executive director of Tobacco-Free St. Louis, snitched. The Ritz Carlton was holding a black tie cigar event which was attended by 400 people. Their cigar bar was too small, so they moved the event to a small ballroom. Lawyers for the Ritz Carlton believe they were allowed to use the room based on the 20% allowable smoking area.<br />
PALENCIA, Spain. Restaurants and bars closed for the day to protest the new smoking ban. It was the first major demonstration since the ban took effect. The Spanish Hotel and Catering Association launched an effort to obtain half a million signatures on a petition to demand that parliament change the legislation. We wish you well and keep on protesting!<br />
Arizona passed a bill to allow the use of medical marijuana, however, selling marijuana is illegal by Federal Law. Apparently, Arizona has ignored Federal Law and now wants to tax marijuana by 6.6%. How does this work exactly? If your doctors gives you a " written certification" for marijuana you will be taxed but if you buy it from the local drug dealer you won’t. It is amazing how legislators can tap dance around an issue to collect taxes. Medical marijuana is used by cancer patients to overcome the side effects of chemotherapy.<br />
The American Lung Association gave Wyoming an "F" because there is no statewide smoking ban in Wyoming. Why should anyone care what the ALA has to say? They have been funded primarily by Big Pharma, who wants to sell their nicotine devices by using the ALA and other nonprofits to change the behavior of citizens. Nonprofits should not be lobbying for smoking bans or any other ban on a legal product. They should be spending their money on research, not wining and dining legislators.<br type="_moz" />
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<p class="MsoNormal">Florence, S.C. is considering a smoking ban. However, SCnow.com thinks it should be up to the business owner. We agree. No one forces you to go into a smoking bar or restaurant, nor work there. Choice should be up to the business owner and patron, not the government.</p>
Fights are breaking out on the streets of Spain between smokers, restaurateurs and the police. If the people do not support a smoking ban this is what happens. The Spaniard’s are fighting back, good for them.<br type="_moz" />
Canada’s tobacco tax is too high, and this is resulting in a major illegal tobacco trade. Well, what did they expect? You cannot force people to quit. It just doesn’t work. If the cost is too high, it will lead to crime. No lessons are ever learned! Prohibition didn’t work in the USA either; the results were the same. Canada went through this several years ago and reduced the tobacco tax. They know what they must do: either put up with illegal tobacco or lower the taxes – choose!<br type="_moz" />