http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/state/MI.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/health/chi-mentholaug13,0,4980949.story http://tobacco.org/news/270217.html Eighty years after a man named Lloyd "Spud" Hughes, as legend has it, accidentally mixed his tobacco with menthol crystals, Congress is fighting over whether to ban these popular flavored cigarettes. Mentholated cigarettes started out in the 1920s with such names as Spud, Listerine, the Original Eucalyptus Smoke and Snowball. Today they're sold as Newport, Kool and Marlboro Menthol, the smokes of choice among the black community. Critics charge they are products designed specifically to lure young blacks into a lifetime of tobacco use. . . . the issue of what, if anything, should be done about menthols has proved complicated for political Washington --and for smokers. . . . "We see this as a huge issue," said Jan Roberts, a registered nurse who runs the Genesee County Asthma Network, in Flint. "It certainly seems like the tobacco industry has a pretty strong hold on our community." The Congressional Black Caucus, whose members represent many of the densely populated and largely black urban centers where menthol cigarettes are most popular, is split on the menthol question as well. . . . A 2002 report, "The African Americanization of menthol cigarette use in the United States," found that tobacco companies nearly doubled their market share in the African-American community from the early 1960s through the late 1970s. Part of the campaign, the report said, was built on a perception that menthols are safer to smoke than non-menthol brands. Chicago Tribune tmjones@tribune.com ( Tim Jones * Chicago Tribune correspondent ) Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.thetimesherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080813/NEWS01/808130309 http://tobacco.org/news/269998.html "I don't think anybody has the right to tell me what to do in my own apartment unless it is against the law," said Cornell, 66, a smoker for 50 years. Vicksburg Halls in April last year adopted rules prohibiting smoking in its apartments, a decision approved by the Marysville Housing Commission. Wayne Pyden, the executive director of the complex, said as of Oct. 1, any resident caught smoking in his or her apartment will be evicted. . . . Vicksburg Halls is home to about 20 smokers, of which 17 still are allowed to smoke in their apartments, since they were residents before the new rules. Most of those smokers are outraged by the rule. Outside the complex Tuesday, a group of residents -- almost all smokers -- complained about the situation. Port Huron Times Herald stait@gannett.com (STEPHEN TAIT Times Herald ) Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.thetimesherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080813/OPINION01/808130322/-1/NEWSFRONT2 http://tobacco.org/news/269997.html There is little point in crunching the numbers of St. Clair County restaurants that are smoke-free today. Those that banned smoking did so voluntarily. A year-old county ordinance against smoking in workplaces exempts bars and restaurants. The county's limited law really is an indictment of Lansing. Only the state Legislature can ban smoking at bars and restaurants. So far, Michigan's lawmakers cannot summon the courage to adopt such a statute. . . . Most of the county's bars and a significant number of its restaurant haven't embraced the smoking ban -- and they aren't likely to do so unless state lawmakers take the lead. Secondhand smoke takes the lives of tens of thousands of nonsmokers each year, according to U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona. St. Clair County has done its best to win nonsmokers some relief. Now it's up to Lansing. Port Huron Times Herald Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.mlive.com/annarbor/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-28/1218465614210090.xml&coll=2 http://tobacco.org/news/269981.html A new study released Friday links those different reactions to genetics, said research project leader Ovide Pomerleau, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Michigan Medical School. Those who experience a pleasurable buzz during their first cigarette are more likely to have a variant of the CHRNA5 nicotine receptor gene. They're also more likely to become addicted smokers - and more likely to develop lung cancer, previous research has found. "That's a really surprising element, that the same gene that would make you like it and make you addicted would cause a disease process ... it's a terrible trap,'' Pomerleau said. For the CHRNA5 study, conducted by a multi-university team, researchers surveyed a total of 435 smokers and non-smokers and took DNA samples. Michigan Live Mon, 11 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.mlive.com/muskegon/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1218640519277410.xml&coll=8 http://tobacco.org/news/269980.html With the ongoing debate about smoker's rights, the smoking restrictions on our beaches and the proposed legislation in the state, I would just like to add another testimonial about how smokers add to the litter problem in our community and could help reduce the problem. As a member of Muskegon Lions Club, we are one of the many community groups that help the Zonat Club put out the flags along our main thoroughfares during certain holidays and summertime events. While putting out the flags, you have the opportunity to see up close the number of cigarette butts that accumulate along the grassy area that borders the pavement. It is unbelievable how many "butts" there are Muskegon Chronicle Mon, 11 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www2.med.umich.edu/prmc/media/newsroom/details.cfm?ID=523 http://tobacco.org/news/269850.html Now, a new study links those first experiences with smoking, and the likelihood that a person is currently a smoker, to a particular genetic variation. The finding may help explain the path that leads from that first cigarette to lifelong smoking. The new finding also adds to growing suspicion surrounding the role of a particular nicotine-receptor gene in smoking-related behaviors and in lung cancer. Other researchers have already linked variations in the same genetic region to smokers’ level of dependence on nicotine, to the number of cigarettes smoked per day and to a far higher risk of lung cancer — the ultimate outcome of a lifetime of smoking. In a paper published online today in the journal Addiction, a multi-university collaborative team of researchers specializing in statistical genetics, gene analysis, and trait analysis reports an association between a variant in the CHRNA5 nicotine receptor gene, initial smoking experiences, and current smoking patterns. The genetic and smoking data come from 435 volunteers. University of Michigan Health System kegavin@umich.edu Fri, 08 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080801/OPINION01/808010334/1069 http://tobacco.org/news/269512.html The federal government regulates many things that are inherently less dangerous than tobacco, which may be the only product one uses by sticking it in one's mouth and setting it on fire. The Food and Drug Administration should be able to slap some controls on the marketing and labeling of something that costs the nation hundreds of millions of health care dollars each year, not to mention lost work time because of smoking-related illnesses and even smoking breaks. . . . The vote was 326-102, with only two of Michigan's representatives, Republicans Thad McCotter of Livonia and Tim Walberg of Tipton, among the opposition. Michigan U.S. Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow are among cosponsors of similar legislation in the Senate. . . . The FDA's effectiveness will largely be a matter of resources, and the tobacco program would be financed through user fees on the industry. This is an issue of health and welfare for Americans now, but especially for generations to come. This action is long overdue. Detroit Free Press Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://media.www.michigandaily.com/media/storage/paper851/news/2008/07/21/LettersToTheEditor/Letter.To.The.Editor-3392804.shtml http://tobacco.org/news/269047.html In spite of Robert Soave's disclaimer at the outset of his column (Smoking them out, 07/14/2008), I suspect that he has indeed inhaling something - and something more potent than tobacco smoke. Without directly saying so, Soave tries to frame the public smoking ban as a civil rights issue, even going so far as to claim that smokers are "persecuted" under such legislation. This is total nonsense. It is a public health issue; scientific study has firmly established the serious health hazards of secondhand smoke. Thus, these measures are meant to benefit and protect the welfare of the majority at a minor inconvenience to those who still choose to smoke. . . . In what would appear to be the ultimate test case for this trend, New York City effected a smoking ban for its bars and restaurants without noticeable unrest or turmoil. If it can happen there, it stands to reason that it can happen anywhere. Michigan Daily [U. of Michigan] heyonline@umich.edu (Jeff Handt ) Mon, 21 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://media.www.michigandaily.com/media/storage/paper851/news/2008/07/14/Columns/Smoking.Them.Out-3390563.shtml http://tobacco.org/news/269039.html But you don't have to be a smoker to be troubled by the language of a study released last week by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention about the current state of second-hand smoke in our country. The study announced some seemingly optimistic statistics: The percentage of non-smokers with traces of second-hand smoke in their blood has fallen dramatically. Studies conducted in the late 80's and early 90's showed that 86 percent of non-smokers were inhaling second-hand smoke, whereas more recent studies from 1999 through 2004 revealed that that figure was then only 46 percent. While these are positive results, the methods by which they were achieved are regrettable. The study says that the reason for the drop is the large number of restrictive laws that prohibit smoking in restaurants, bars and the workplace. It is this message calling for more and more burdensome restrictions that has made American society a hostile place for smokers. Our own state of Michigan has recently succumbed to this message by taking up legislation to ban smoking in bars and restaurants. . . . Protecting people from the dangers of second-hand smoke is certainly a noble goal. But forcing business owners to discriminate against some of their most vital customers is demeaning to the owner and the smoker, and it's even bad for the kids at home. Michigan Daily [U. of Michigan] rsoave@umich.edu ( Robert Soave on 7/14/08 ) Mon, 14 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.ludingtondailynews.com/news.php?story_id=40818&newsgroup_id= http://tobacco.org/news/269018.html Smokers on the campus of West Shore Community College might have to go even farther away from buildings now to be in compliance with the college's smoking policy. About 50 feet farther to be exact. Under a proposed revision to the college's smoking policy, smoking would be prohibited in outside areas of the campus that are not more than 50 feet from an entrance into any facility. Ludington Daily News jlinn@ludingtondailynews.com (Jennifer Linn - Staff Writer) Sat, 19 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=8655971&nav=DYFw http://tobacco.org/news/268537.html Throughout the special session, we've heard house democrats push a cigarette tax to cover Medicaid's shortfall. It turns out, the Senate has its own tobacco tax plan. But, its proceeds have nothing to do with Mississippi's Medicaid crisis. Instead of concentrating on the welfare of low income Mississippians, the Senate's tobacco tax would create income tax credits, and bolster a wellness campaign. . . Hewes says the Senate republicans' tobacco tax makes more sense. The plan they came up with charges 50 cents more for a pack of cigarettes. It WLOX-TV bkessie@wlox.com (Brad Kessie) Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://news.yahoo.com/s/prweb/20080707/bs_prweb/prweb1053314_1 http://tobacco.org/news/268376.html With a choice of more than 750 different brands of cigars, CigarFox.com is featuring a limited time offer for first-time orders. Not only do customers have the luxury of customizing a five-pack sampler of premium cigar singles, first-time orders will also receive a special shipping rate of only .01 cent. Typically, a one five-pack sampler reflects standard shipping fees of $8.95 so this represents a substantial savings. PR Web Mon, 07 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.themorningsun.com/stories/070408/loc_smokefree.shtml http://tobacco.org/news/268232.html When the newly constructed Commission on Aging facility opens this fall, it may be a smoke-free campus. The smoking ban will be discussed by the Isabella County Board of Commissioners at anAugust meeting. "I'm in favor of making that smoke-free," Commissioner Roger Trudell said. He told board members Tuesday that the campus of Central Michigan Community Hospital is smoke-free as well as the Gratiot hospital. Mount Pleasant Morning Sun news@michigannewspapers.com (LISA SATAYUT Sun Staff Writer ) Fri, 04 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.wlns.com/global/story.asp?s=8574916 http://tobacco.org/news/268020.html State lawmakers left the capitol without taking action on a long-awaited smoking ban for bars and restaurants. Public support for the measure has been growing and some businesses are pleased they'll still be able to ask-- smoking or non? Keith Berkimer works long hours in the kitchen at Bonnie's Place in Lansing, and when he gets off work he doesn't go far, relaxing at the bar with a cold brew and a cigarette. Keith Berkimer, kitchen manager: "I probably wouldn't be here as much if I couldn't smoke here." WLNS 6 News Sun, 29 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.woodtv.com/global/story.asp?s=8608372 http://tobacco.org/news/268012.html But today, the chain is taking that nationwide. The change will effect some West Michigan locations -- including Battle Creek and Benton Harbor. . . . Restaurant officials say the decision is based on customer comments, national and local restaurant industry trends, and a 2006 report by the U.S. Surgeon General. WOOD TV8 newsroom@woodtv.com ([item undated]) Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT