Joint Statement: Pending North Carolina Smoke-free Legislation Would be a Step Backwards for the Health of N.C. Citizens

Publication Date: 2005-08-05

• Author:[n.a.]
• Publication:U.S. Newswire

-- Following is a joint statement from the

American Cancer Society, the

American Heart Association, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights:

Far from protecting public health, the statewide smoke-free legislation that was passed this morning would jeopardize the health of North Carolina's workers and children. The legislation was passed out of

House Judiciary Committee One as an amendment to the Substance Abuse Bill (SB 705). Not only does this bill fall far short of protecting the rights of all North Carolinians to breathe smoke-free air, but it also prohibits North Carolina communities from acting independently to pass stronger, effective smoke-free legislation. North Carolina's leaders must act immediately to reject this enormously flawed bill, which will do little to protect all workers and patrons from the many health risks of secondhand smoke. Failure to do so, in conjunction with the Legislature's effort to enact as low a cigarette tax as possible, will demonstrate once again that the North Carolina legislature remains beholden to the tobacco industry. Secondhand smoke contains 4,000 toxins and at least 60 carcinogens and is a proven cause of lung cancer, heart disease and other serious diseases. Everyone in North Carolina should have the right to breathe smoke-free air.