Assembly considers Delaware-style smoke ban

Publication Date: 2005-03-04

• Author:Kristy Graver
• Publication:Ocean City (MD) Today

"We enjoy going to Delaware because we don't have to hang our clothes outside the next day to get rid of the smoke smell," he said.

Munro is the legislative assistant to Delegate Barbara Frush (D-District 21-Anne Arundel and Prince George's), the democratic lawmaker who introduced the Clean Indoor Act of 2005, a cross-filed bill that would snuff-out smoking in all indoor areas open to the public and places of employment, including restaurants and bars.

Currently, it is illegal to light up a cigarette in most indoor workplaces unless there is a designated smoking room that is enclosed and separately ventilated. Munro said while ventilation systems trap odor-causing particles, they don't eliminate the carcinogenic gases emitted by cigarette smoke.

"What you're getting is a poisonous atmosphere that smells better," he said.