Tobacco.org

Aldermen expand city's public smoking ban  

Miss Mississippi warns students of ills, social taboos from tobacco 

Miss Mississippi Mary Margaret Roark speaks to fourth- and fifth-grade students at Sacred Heart School on Monday about being tobacco-free. Roark, a junior at Mississippi State, presented the program Tar Wars.

Standing before fourth- and fifth-grade students at Southaven's Sacred Heart School Monday morning, 21-year-old Miss Mississippi Mary Margaret Roark shined a brief spotlight on her father's use of chewing tobacco.

"I've seen how it hurts his body," she said. "I've seen how it's very gross and sticky -- I don't like it at all."

As part of her Tar Wars presentation, on behalf of the Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians, Roark attempted to further dissuade the children in attendance by relaying the fact that chewing tobacco for 30 minutes has as much or more nicotine as three cigarettes.

Jump to full article »

Durant becomes smoke free city 

Verona joins list of cities with public smoking bans 

Penalties removed from tobacco bill  

Verona approves smoking ban  

• Diet, Smoking May Affect MS Progression 

Dietary factors and cigarette smoking may alter the course of disease in patients with a milder form of multiple sclerosis, a new study finds.

Out of nearly 900 patients with what is called "relapsing onset" multiple sclerosis (MS), those who regularly consumed alcohol, caffeine and fish were less likely to progress to the point that they needed help walking, which is considered a milestone in the course of the disease. In contrast, cigarette smoking was associated with an increased risk of becoming disabled. . . .

Also, the study only saw the associations between diet and smoking and disease progression among patients with relapsing-remitting MS, and not among those with what is known as primary progressive MS. . . .

The new study is published in the April issue of the European Journal of Neurology. . . .

smoking appeared to accelerate disease progression. Smoking is known to be a risk factor for developing MS, and could also play a role in disease progression, D'hooghe said.

Jump to full article »

Zachary's to go smoke-free  

APNewsBreak: As critics eye outside lawyer pacts, Miss. AG hires ex-AG who sued big tobacco  

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood confirmed Tuesday to The Associated Press that he has hired former Attorney General Mike Moore and others to handle the state's claims against BP PLC stemming from the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Jump to full article »

NKY Men Sentenced In Contraband Tobacco Case 

EDITORIAL: Smoking bills' death bad public policy 

The death of a proposed statewide smoking ban last week may not have excited much interest, but the bills' demise is a loss for good public health policy and a comment on misplaced priorities.

This legislative session - the first with Republican majorities in both chambers - has been marked mostly by "red meat" political issues dear to the new GOP leadership. Charter schools, immigration and anti-abortion bills have proliferated, along with attempts to limit the power of the lone statewide Democratic officeholder, Attorney General Jim Hood.

But noticeably absent this session have been some just plain good government bills that serve the public. Among those that died last Tuesday were House Bills 892 and 893, and Senate Bills 2713 and 2873. Those bills would have banned smoking in enclosed public spaces, including restaurants. Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia have passed smoke-free laws, including Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee. . . .

Citizens in many parts of the state are still subjected to second-hand smoke, however, because the Legislature has not been willing to act.

Public health may not be a "red meat" political issue, but it is important for public health. The Legislature should make Mississippi public areas smoke free.

Jump to full article »

Phelps of Renegade Tobacco expected to plead guilty 

Calvin Phelps, owner of three bankrupt Mocksville tobacco manufacturers, is expected to plead guilty in May to three unidentified criminal charges, according to recently filed court documents.

A hearing has been set for 1:30 p.m. May 17 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi.

Phelps, who owns Renegade Holdings Inc., Renegade Tobacco Co. and Alternative Brands Inc., has been the subject of a criminal investigation for nearly four years.

In May 2010, U.S. attorney William Martin said Phelps and the companies were being investigated "for unlawful trafficking in cigarettes and other related crimes."

A filing last week said Phelps has agreed to a waiving of indictment and plans to make a plea on three counts before District Judge Sharion Aycock. A presentence interview will take place immediately after the plea proceedings.

Jump to full article »

EDITORIAL: Smoking: Bill deaths bad public policy  

But noticeably absent this session have been some just plain good government bills that serve the public.

Among those that died Tuesday were House Bills 892 and 893, and Senate Bills 2713 and 2873 . Those bills would have banned smoking in enclosed public spaces, including restaurants. Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia have passed smoke-free laws, including Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee.

Opinion polls show that the majority of Mississippians support smoking curbs. . . .

Curbing smoking is good economics, as well. Treatment of tobacco-related diseases costs Mississippi $264 million each year in direct Medicaid costs.

Several Mississippi cities have enacted smoking bans. Citizens in many parts of the state are still subjected to second-hand smoke, however, because the Legislature has not been willing to act.

Public health may not be a "red meat" political issue, but it is important for public health. The Legislature should make Mississippi public areas smoke free.

Jump to full article »

• Revised smoking ban heads back to council  

A proposed ban on smoking in most public places in Biloxi goes back on the agenda Tuesday for a first reading.

The Council meeting is at 1:30 p.m. at City Hall.

The new draft has one revision from the version proposed by Councilwoman Lucy Denton in February. “We added the tobacco shops,” she said. Customers would be allowed to smoke in tobacco stores. Smoking also would be allowed on casino floors, in bars and private clubs. It would be prohibited in private offices, stores, restaurants and on outdoor dining decks.

Jump to full article »

Poll Majority for statewide smoking ban 

JACKSON – Mississippi voters by an overwhelming margin support a ban on smoking in most businesses.

Smokefree Mississippi, a coalition of more than 100 organizations, recently released the results of the survey as it prepares to try to push through the 2012 session legislation to ban smoking statewide in restaurants and other businesses.

The survey, conducted by Washington, D.C.-based Public Opinion Strategies, found that 68 percent of voters support such a statewide ban while 29 percent oppose it. The survey was conducted Jan. 10 and 12 of 500 likely 2012 general election voters on landlines. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.38 percent.

“Voters know that secondhand smoke is a health hazard and this poll shows that they want a strong law protecting their right to breathe clean air,” said Katherine Bryant with the American Heart Association, which is part of the Smokefree Mississippi coalition. “The Legislature should listen to the people of Mississippi and act to make all workplaces smoke free.”

Jump to full article »