Tobacco.org

Police ID man in fatal Cranston fire 

• RI city delays enforcement of tobacco rules again 

Lawyers for the city of Providence, several tobacco companies and others have agreed in federal court to another delay in the enforcement of new tobacco ordinances that are the subject of a federal lawsuit.

A federal judge Monday approved the agreement, calling for the city to begin enforcing the ordinances at the end of the day on Oct. 15. An earlier agreement called for enforcement to start at the end of July.

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New Smoking Policy for Westerly High School Campus  

• R.I. health agencies seek to back Providence against tobacco lawsuit  

The state departments of Health and Behavioral Healthcare Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals are among 20-plus entities seeking to back the city in its legal battle against big tobacco interests.

The American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association, the Rhode Island Medical Society and other agencies are asking to file briefs supporting new city ordinances aimed at curbing teen tobacco sales.

The National Association of Tobacco Outlets and tobacco groups sued Providence in February, accusing the city of violating their federal and state rights by passing an ordinance that prohibits stores from selling tobacco at discounted prices and another staunching the promotion of flavored tobacco products.

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Fire Dept: Cigarette Ignited Fire at North Dartmouth Apartment Complex 

• Lawmakers to Consider Lowering Cigarette Tax Next Week 

The House Finance Committee next week will discuss legislation proposed by State Rep. Robert Phillips that would lower the cigarette tax by $1 per pack.

Similar to a bill he introduced last year, the legislation aims to draw more revenue back into Rhode Island with lower prices. The bill, Phillips says, would make Rhode Island, which has one of the highest cigarette taxes in the nation more competitive with Massachusetts and Connecticut

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RI anti-smoking effort aims to help veterans quit  

• Smokeless tobacco products resemble candy, target children, prevention leaders say  

a team of Prevention Coalition leaders from Lincoln, North Smithfield and Woonsocket are trying to spread the word.

With smoking in public forbidden in most areas, and generally frowned upon, these awareness leaders said the tobacco industry has had to think more creatively.

In the photo above, Snus is a product that makes tobacco use more convenient, say the area's Prevention Coalition leaders Pamela Shayer and Lisa Carcifero, because the tea bag-like pouch of snuff eliminates the need for spitting.

"Cigarette use is down, but tobacco use is way up," said Pamela Shayer, coordinator of the Lincoln and North Smithfield Prevention Coalitions. "I think kids know smoking is bad, but I don't think they know that this is bad. It's marketed as a replacement."

Shayer was joined by Woonsocket Prevention Coalition Executive Director Lisa Carcifero, Woonsocket Prevention Coalition Grant Coordinator Carol Fisk, and Rhode Island Tobacco Control Network Director Lisa Carnevale for a community meeting on emerging products.

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Providence, RI to celebrate anti-tobacco campaign 

RI health officials push for smoke-free housing 

-Rhode Island health officials have launched a public-awareness campaign aimed at creating more smoke-free housing.

The "Live Smoke Free RI" campaign is targeting landlords, tenants and public housing authorities.

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EDITORIAL: Ban butts at the beach  

For the sake of fresh air, clean sand and tender toes, beach operators need to draw a line in the sand against smoking.

A bill before the Rhode Island legislature would accomplish just that for state beaches there. Massachusetts lawmakers would do visitors to Horseneck and other places a favor by following suit.

Cigarettes are right up their with jellyfish, seaweed, green flies and sandwich-snatching seagulls in their ability to put a damper on a good beach day. . . .

Smokers protest that they’ve already been hounded from most indoor places and now the cigarette vigilantes are forcing them out of the outdoors too.

There is good reason for that ostracism— especially at beaches. People pay dearly to visit the beach and the price of admission to these public places ought to assure pristine air and sand.

Cigarettes foul both of these so ought to be forbidden.

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RI health officials launch anti-tobacco campaign 

Rhode Island health officials have launched an anti-tobacco campaign featuring the voice of a tobacco industry lobbyist who died of throat cancer in 1996.

The Department of Health says the campaign targets young people and includes television and radio spots, a Facebook page and outdoor advertisements.

Health officials say the radio and television spots feature the voice of the late lobbyist Victor Crawford, who is heard saying that he lied about how the tobacco industry targeted the young with its marketing. The ad also includes an apology from Crawford.

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LETTER: Cigarette butts take terrible toll on sea life  

Thanks for bringing our attention to the impacts of cigarette butts discarded at the beach.

I would like to offer additional reasons for not putting that butt into the sand, or throwing it out the car window or even crushing it underfoot outdoors. Those butts end up being washed into the nearest stream or pond and eventually enter rivers and then the ocean, where they alluringly float on the surface, tempting many creatures to ingest them.

Some creatures such as sea turtles eat them and, after eating these butts containing almost 5,000 chemicals from tobacco smoke, either die from the chemicals or feel full as the indigestible butts sit in the turtles’ stomach . . .

Isn’t it time we were more accountable for the impacts our careless actions have on the rest of earths’ inhabitants? Let’s start with cigarette butts! They belong in the trash!

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• Prov. to Delay Use of New Tobacco Rules  

The city of Providence has agreed in federal court to delay enforcing two new ordinances tightening rules for selling tobacco.

Federal court records show the delay is part of an agreement reached with several tobacco companies and others who have filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Providence that challenges the regulations.

The suit targets ordinances banning pricing strategies, such as "buy one, get one free," and sales of non-cigarette tobacco products marketed as having a fruit or candy flavor.

The ordinances will now go into effect at the end of July.

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EDITORIAL: Ban butts at the beach 

A bill before the Rhode Island legislature would accomplish just that for state beaches there. Massachusetts lawmakers would do visitors to Horseneck and other places a favor by following suit.

Cigarettes are right up their with jellyfish, seaweed, green flies and sandwich-snatching seagulls in their ability to put a damper on a good beach day. There’s not much to be done about those other four, but cigarettes can and ought to be banned on the beach.

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