Cancer society salutes new smoking law

Publication Date: 2016-02-08

• Author:Post News Staff
• Publication:The Guam Daily Post

The American Cancer Society yesterday issued a release yesterday saluting Guam lawmakers for the recently passed Bill 143, which seeks to strengthen the anti-smoking Natasha Protection Act. The new provisions of the law, which was passed by the legislature with a unanimous vote Jan. 20, will take effect Jan. 1, 2017.

The bill lapsed into law without the signature of Gov. Eddie Calvo, according to the governor's spokeswoman. While the governor supports the fight against tobacco use, he is concerned about the "invasion" of the government into the lives of private citizens, said Oyaol Ngirairikl, director of communication of the governor's office. The bill became Public Law 33-121 on Feb. 4.

Prior to the enactment of the new law, Guam law had exemptions allowing for smoking in bars, nightclubs, hotel rooms and certain workplaces. "By removing these exemptions, Guam will be able to give more people the right to breathe clean indoor air in public workplaces," the Cancer Society release stated.

"I want to commend the legislature for taking a bold step and voting resoundingly to extend Guam's smoke-free law to bars," said Cathy Rivera Castro, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) volunteer. "This vote sends a strong message that reducing secondhand smoke exposure is vital to the health and well-being of all the people of Guam..."...