Kansas Statewide Smoking Ban Signed By Gov. Mark Parkinson
On March 12th, 2010 Gov. Mark Parkinson has signed Kansas’ first statewide smoking ban. In a speech the Governor called it a victory for people concerned about health and clean air initiatives. Parkinson smiled big in his picture while signing this historic big brother law.
It was during a ceremony held at the Statehouse that Parkinson signed this ban into a official law. Now that everything has been legally signed and approved the ban will become official on the books and be enforced by July 1st, 2010.
Parkinson said the law was the work of a bipartisan coalition in the House and Senate, as well as numerous doctors, nurses and health professionals.
The law bans smoking in restaurants, bars, offices and many other public places. One of the biggest businesses with money to keep the ban from happening to them was casinos. They were specifically exempt from the ban as long as they state-owned or operated by the state. The Governor stated he felt this exemption was hypocritical and could be dealt with in the future. He said it would be appropriate and expected for the state to change that exemption in the future.
Health officials estimate that 4,000 Kansans die from smoking-related disease every year, about 300 through exposure to secondhand smoke. With the new ban this is expected to reduce most secondhand smoke deaths.Other Electronic Cigarette Information
- Missouri House takes step toward a K2 ban | Political Fix | STLtoday
- Second-Hand Smoke Raises Risk Of Hardened Arteries Among 13-Year-Old Children | The Behavioral Medicine Report
- Ban smoking in cars to save children, say doctors | US Winston Online Club
- Smoking ban at California beaches one step closer
3