Tobacco.org

Coalition seeking support for smoke-free city 

As more cities move toward smoking bans in all buildings, the Richland County Tobacco Free Coalition is following suit. While Wilkin County went smoke free with the statewide Minnesota Freedom to Breathe Act in 2007, North Dakota businesses stayed open to smokers.

Richland County Tobacco Prevention Coordinator Jason Bergstrand visited the Wilkin County Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs Coalition (ATOD) Thursday to ask for support in his and the coalition efforts in making Wahpeton a smoke-free city. The ATOD agreed to sign a letter of support when the time comes. Bergstrand said there is talk of a vaccine to cure cancer.

"The vaccine is available to us already," Bergstrand said. "It's tobacco and smoking prevention." He added that a high tax on tobacco products, smoke-free laws, secondhand smoking laws and smoke-free work places are just a few preventive methods in place around the country.

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