Smoke-Free Arizona hopes to make state healthier

Publication Date: 2005-11-14

• Author:Lindsey Stockton
• Publication:Eastern Arizona Courier

The American Lung Association of Arizona, the American Cancer Society and American Heart Association came together to launch an exploratory campaign for a statewide voter initiative in Arizona to prohibit smoking in all enclosed public places and workplaces.

The “Smoke-Free Arizona” initiative uses language from the 11 other states with smoke-free policies and municipalities in Arizona that have already adopted smoke-free regulations. Originally, the organizations involved tried to get the legislature to pass a bill, but that process was too compromising for an issue such as this one, Bill J. Pfeifer, president and CEO of the American Lung Association of Arizona and New Mexico, said. “You can't really compromise on this; it has to be all or nothing,” he said. . . .

Petitioners for the Graham-Greenlee areas are needed, and citizens can sign up to be a petitioner at www.smokefreearizona.org.