NORMAN — The Sand Springs City Council voted unanimously in favor of a resolution calling on the Oklahoma legislature to grant municipalities the authority to pass local smoke-free ordinances. Sand Springs became the 10th community to pass such a resolution, joining Oklahoma City, Seminole, Tahlequah, Muskogee, Elk City, Hulbert, Prague, Clinton and Cordell.
Current state law prohibits Oklahoma municipalities from passing local smoke-free ordinances to protect workers and patrons from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.
“Everyone has the right to breathe smoke-free air,” said Pat Marshall, Oklahoma Government Relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. “City councils throughout Oklahoma recognize this and want to protect their citizens, but can’t do anything about it until the Oklahoma legislature acts.”
Secondhand smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, including hundreds that are toxic and about 70 that can cause cancer, and causes an estimated 46,000 heart disease deaths and 3,400 lung cancer deaths annually among adult nonsmokers in the United States.
“The science on the harms of secondhand smoke is clear,” Marshall said. “No one should have to choose between their health and a paycheck.”
Oklahoma is one of only 13 states that limit the ability of municipalities to pass local smoke-free ordinances and one of 26 states without a statewide law that requires all workplaces, restaurants and bars to be smoke-free.
“We commend these local elected officials for doing what they can to protect the residents of and visitors to their fine communities,” Marshall said. “We urge the Oklahoma legislature to listen to these communities and preserve the rights of local governments to enact and enforce local smoke-free laws.”
For local news and more, subscribe to The Norman Transcript Smart Edition, or our print edition.
Raw: Widespread Destruction in Moore, Okla.
Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma
Raw: Japan's WWII Atrocities Under Fire in Seoul
Voters Could Elect LA's First Female Mayor
Huge Tornado Kills Dozens Near Oklahoma City
Raw: Rescuers Pull Tornado Survivors to Safety
Oklahoma Gov: 'Hearts Are Broken' After Tornado
Raw: Walking in a Flattened Okla. Neighborhood
Raw: Rescue Workers Search Oklahoma School
Raw: Witness Describes Scene After Okla. Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Massive Tornado in Oklahoma
Raw: House Burns After Massive Oklahoma Tornado
Raw: Tornado on the Ground in Oklahoma
Split-second Choice Ended With NY Student Dead
White House Backs 'Shield Law' for Media
Wave of Attacks Kills Scores in Iraq
Pug Life on Display at Wisconsin Festival
Company Promises to Make All Snail Mail Digital
Analyst: Tumblr Fills Void in Yahoo's Offerings
