I have unfortunately spent a lot of time over the past year with people who have cancer. I want to do everything I can to help prevent this awful disease in all of its forms, and my proposal to ban smoking on all County properties except public rights of way is a good place to start.
I will introduce the bill, which will cover all property leased or owned by the County, on November 20. We will hold a public hearing on January 15 (call 240-777-7803 to sign up).
In Montgomery County, one in 12 adults smoke cigarettes. Nationally, tobacco use is responsible for one in five deaths, and an annual toll of 443,000 deaths. Smoking accounts for at least 30 percent of all cancer deaths and is associated with increased risk for 15 types of cancer. Tobacco use remains the single, largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the U.S.
I’m very pleased that the American Cancer Society will join me for a press event on November 15, the day of the 37th Great American Smokeout, to announce the bill. The Smokeout is an annual event that urges smokers to give up their smoking habits. Thanks also to Council Vice President Nancy Navarro and Councilmembers Craig Rice, Hans Riemer, George Leventhal and Marc Elrich for co-sponsoring the bill.
Friday, November 9, 2012
My Bill to Ban Smoking on County Property
Posted by
Councilmember Nancy Floreen
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Please stop taking our rights as citizens away . We don't need you to help us stop smoking. Put you time and effort to stop new smokers. If we could stop our addiction we would but it is a disease. You push smokers to a limit you don't know what they will do to have a smoke. Focus or the drunks on your same street corners every day or being picked up by your ambulance for lying in the road every day. But you the county continue to sell it to them alchole.. Just t because you don't like smoking doesn't give you the right to take our rights to smoke away. Focus on stopping new smokers and leave us alone.
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