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Smoking barred in Washington fire station ($$) 

MARTINSVILLE The Washington Township Fire Department station is now a smoke-free building. The Washington Township board voted unanimously at its Wednesday meeting to ban smoking i ...

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Bill would outlaw bulk smoke-rolling machines  

Anti-tobacco legislation making its way through Olympia would close a downtown small business, as well as many others around the state, if passed into law.

Senate Bill 6564, sponsored by Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Kent, and Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Bellevue, would ban cigarette-rolling machines at stores that sell bulk tobacco.

For business owners like Casey Kroesser, the owner of DIY Tobacco in downtown Port Orchard, the legislation would be a death knell.

“If this bill went through it would close us down,” she said.

But stopping the proliferation of tobacco is more important than saving local businesses that operate these machines, Keiser said.

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Measures seek to curb “roll your own” cigarette movement 

State legislators are looking to crack down on the “roll your own” cigarette movement, which has sprung up within the past year to help consumers find an alternative to paying soaring tobacco taxes.

Stores like U Count Tobacco in Aberdeen, which opened just four months ago, could be put out of business if one of several pieces of legislation up for consideration gets approved.

U Count Tobacco, on the corner of Myrtle and Simpson, sells the tobacco in bags and sells the cigarette tubes and paper. They also allow a user to rent a large cigarette packing machine that can stuff tobacco into the equivalent of 200 tubes for roughly half the cost of a pre-packed carton of cigarettes down the street at a convenience store.

Store owner Wayne Brown says the customer does everything — dump the tobacco, pack the carton and customize each cigarette with as much or as little tobacco as they want using an easy on-screen menu on the packing machine.

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Letters: Smoking ban is senseless issue  

Regarding the Feb. 1 Columbian story, “County commissioners reluctant to ban smoking in parks,” kudos to the board of Clark County Commissioners for rejecting an outdoor smoking ban. It’s too bad that with the horrible economy in Clark County, they have to work on such a senseless issue. Or that the city of Vancouver already has enacted a ban on smoking outdoors in parks, while ignoring high unemployment. Or that the county pays a lot of money to employ a director of public health who actually believes that outdoor cigarette smoking is a county health issue worthy of his time.

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Measure seeks to curb “roll your own” cigarette movement  

On Tuesday, the House Committee on Business & Financial Services officially approved legislation that would formally declare retail shops as manufacturers of cigarettes and also make them pay the same taxes as are levied on pre-packed cigarettes. The measure now heads to the House Ways & Means Committee. A similar measure is being considered in the Senate.

Brown, who traveled to Olympia to testify against the measure, says that by declaring his little store a cigarette manufacturer he would have to undergo the same U.S. Food & Drug Administration standards as the large tobacco companies.

“I don’t mind charging more in taxes but the manufacture aspect, that’s going to put us out of business,” Brown said.

And on Thursday, despite never receiving a public hearing, the Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection referred legislation that would out-right ban the use of the large “roll your own” cigarette machines to the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

Brown said he’s just amazed at the open hostility he’s seeing to destroy his business. . . .

“I’m not convinced that we need this bill,” said Blake, D-Aberdeen. “I think the business owners have made the case that they’re just selling tobacco and the tubes and letting customers combine them. And I’m not convinced that any change is needed. But, I have to say, there is bi-partisan support to push this through this session.”

Rep. Steve Kirby, who chairs the House Business Committee, is the prime sponsor of the legislation.

“Many of you will recall a couple of years back when we put that last dollar a pack on cigarettes, I stood on floor of the House opposed to that,” said Kirby, D-Tacoma. “I warned that people would find a way not to pay it. Here we are. Here we are. And we’ve got a problem now and we’ve got to weigh the revenue we’re losing by raising taxes against this entrepeneur spirit that many of us respect.”

TK Bentler, with the Washington Association of Neighborhood Stores, testified that the state is losing $26.2 million in revenue a year by allowing the roll-your-own cigarette stores to remain open and not pay the same taxes.

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State targets do-it-yourself tobacco shops for taxes  

The attorney general’s office introduced Senate Bill 6564 Jan. 30 which seeks to make roll-your-own machines illegal in the state of Washington. Roll-your-own tobacco supporters argued that the bill, which is sponsored by Philip Morris tobacco, is a way to squash small business competition.

The bill replaced House Bill 2565 which was heard before the Senate and House Jan. 23 and 24 and targeted only the so-called “tax loophole” that sponsors argued these small shops were exploiting. Shops like DIY do not pay a state or federal cigarette tax, which is $30 per carton for Washington state. Instead, they pay a lesser tobacco products tax.

“It will close us down,” Cassie Kroesser, owner of DIY Tobacco, said. “Quite simply, I will have to file for bankruptcy if this bill passes.”

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County commissioners reluctant to ban smoking in parks 

Previously: In December, the Vancouver City Council voted to ban all smoking and tobacco use in city parks.

What’s new: On Wednesday, the Board of County Commissioners seemed reluctant to extend the ban to county parks.

What’s next: The commissioners will discuss the topic at a Board of Health meeting, but no date has been set.

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Smoking ban unlikely in Clark County parks 

A complete ban on all forms of tobacco is now in effect in Vancouver. But it isn't likely that Clark County will follow the same step.

The Board of County Commissioners during a work session today didn't seem supportive of the ban and indicated they prefer to stick with the current ordinance, which only calls for voluntary compliance to tobacco-free policy.

Commissioner Steve Stuart said he doesn't want to infringe on the rights of a smoker, who, in the first place, is doing a legal act.

"I don't like disenfranchising and marginalizing people, and that's where we get more and more into," he said. "Either make it illegal or not."

Commissioner Tom Mielke expressed concerns that the county may be overregulating.

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State targets do-it-yourself tobacco shops 

The attorney general's office introduced Senate Bill 6564 Jan. 30 which seeks to make roll-your-own machines illegal in the state of Washington. Roll-your-own tobacco supporters argued that the bill, which is sponsored by Philip Morris tobacco, is a way to squash small business competition.

The bill replaced House Bill 2565 which was heard before the Senate and House Jan. 23 and 24 and targeted only the so-called "tax loophole" that sponsors argued these small shops were exploiting. Shops like DIY do not pay a state or federal cigarette tax, which is $30 per carton for Washington state. Instead, they pay a lesser tobacco products tax.

"It will close us down," Cassie Kroesser, owner of DIY Tobacco, said. "Quite simply, I will have to file for bankruptcy if this bill passes."

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Artists lend their voices to airport PSAs 

We're talking messages from the likes of Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie), hip-hopper Macklemore and grunge legend Jerry Cantrell, who alerts travelers to the airport's no-smoking policy with a decidedly sympathetic twist:

"This is Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains reminding you that smoking is allowed on the lower drive outside the building and only in designated areas … Bummer, dude."

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Cheney considering e-cigarette ordinance 

A new ordinance limiting the sale of electronic cigarettes was presented to the Cheney City Council during another brief meeting Jan. 24.

The ordinance, if approved, would prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes and related supplies to people under 18 years old within the city. It came after the Spokane Regional Health District approached the council in December about the products’ availability to minors in the region; health district representatives said their underage volunteers were able to buy e-cigarettes in one Cheney retailer, and stressed the products are not monitored for the types of chemicals they contain, saying they could be dangerous for kids.

The ordinance would require businesses to post signs telling minors they would be penalized for buying e-cigarettes. Violation by a minor would be a class 3 civil infraction, while violation by anyone other than a minor—someone who was caught selling the products to minors—would receive a class 1 civil infraction.

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Pierce County launches smoke-free housing campaign 

With the new year, some people may be trying to kick a bad habit - like smoking. Pierce County health officials hope to help by launching a new campaign to promote smoke-free housing.

Pierce County has been working with landlords to develop healthier living options for tenants. The new intiative provides rental properties with no-smoking sign and guidance on how to write a lease with smoking restrictions.

"Getting rid of smoking inside units reduces clean-up to half, reduced property insurance rates and fire hazards - alot of benefits," said Frank Dibiase with the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.

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No secret, students use tobacco  

The Central Kitsap School District is in the midst of updating its tobacco use policy and while already prohibited from being used on school property, some students say smoking or chewing tobacco can be a problem.

"I think it's absolutely disgusting," said Jessica VonScheele, a senior at Klahowya Secondary School.

The current district policy prohibits the possession and use of tobacco products on district property and an update to include nicotine substances as well is on the table.

A revised policy could make an exception for prescription-only nicotine replacement products that are used for tobacco cessation.

The Central Kitsap School Board was expected to hold a "first reading" of the policy at Wednesday's board meeting and the policy could be updated and approved as early as mid-February.

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McALEESE: Lawmakers should ignore attempt to allow cigar loophole to indoor-smoking ban  

SINCE voters approved a statewide indoor-smoking ban in 2005, Washington's bars, restaurants and public places have become cleaner and healthier for customers and employees alike. As the owner of a popular Irish bar in Seattle's Pike Place Market, I certainly don't miss the days I went home with watery eyes and smelling of smoke, and neither do the vast majority of my servers, bartenders and patrons.

A recent survey by supporters of the Clean Indoor Air law shows that support for the measure has grown since 63 percent of voters initially approved the ban. Support now stands at 84 percent, with more than 70 percent opposed to weakening the protections to health and safety guaranteed by the law. . . .

The current Clean Indoor Air law is working to protect everyone's right to breathe clean air. Secondhand smoke is a proven health hazard. It doesn't make sense to change current standards to allow cigar smoking in public places. While I respect and appreciate the desire of some bar and restaurant owners to create a specialized atmosphere for a niche clientele, the broader risks to health and potential future rollbacks for other groups (pipe smokers, clove cigarettes? Medical marijuana?) are simply too great.

Washington's Clean Indoor Air law is effective, fair and popular. Legislators should ignore the smoke screen from a few lobbyists and keep their focus on protecting public and workplace health.

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Proposed WA law would turn cars into non-smoking sections if kids present 

A bill to ban smoking inside cars when children are present should come up for debate in Olympia this session.

Drivers would not be able to smoke if children under the age of 18 were in the car. Health advocates say children are at higher risk for health problems when they are in cars with cigarette smoke.

It would be a secondary offense, meaning a driver could not be pulled over for smoking in the car. They would only receive a ticket if they were stopped for another violation.

"I'm totally for it," said smoker Angie Phelps, "I don't want to smoke around kids."

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