Advocates pitch anti-smoking laws

Expecting to learn about the dangers of tobacco and marijuana use, those who attended Community Prevention Night were instead given a pitch on how to vote on three of Nevada's ballot issues in November's general election.

About half of the 40 people who showed up were old enough to vote.

Proponents for tobacco regulations and against the legalization of marijuana spoke at the Partnership of Community Resources sponsored event at Carson Valley United Methodist Church on Thursday.

Advocates urged the passage of the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act and for the opposition to lessen Nevada's marijuana laws.

Michael Hackett, campaign manager for the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act, said the statewide initiative is to change state laws and not the Constitution.

"We've brought it before legislators and they refused to act on it," Hackett said. "If 68-70 percent of voters approve (ballot question 5), then legislators have to act on it."

The initiative would ban cigarette smoking in public places where children are allowed, in restaurants, grocery and convenience stores, shopping malls and schools.

Ballot question 5 is sponsored by the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Nevada State Medical Association and the Nevada Academy of Family Physicians.

"Secondhand smoke is a public health issue - you can die from secondhand smoke and 77 percent of Nevadans don't smoke," Hackett said.

"It's good public policy and it just makes sense. The public supports this," he said. "People have very strong feelings and want to see change. Almost half of the states have adopted some sort of legislation."

Proponents of question 5 find it to be stronger protection from the dangers of tobacco smoke than question 4, titled Responsibly Protect Nevadans from Secondhand Smoke.

The Smoke-Free Coalition, sponsors of question 4, include Herbst Gaming, Golden Gaming, United Coin Machine, Nevada Tavern Owners Association, Nevada Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association.

Dr. Chris Pritsos, Department of Nutrition chair at the University of Nevada, Reno, said 3,000 Americans die each year from lung cancer caused by secondhand smoke.

"The (U.S.) Surgeon General has come out and said there's no safe level," said Pritsos. "There's no ventilation system good enough to protect against secondhand smoke."

Pritsos said smoke aggravates respiratory problems such as asthma and it was found there's a direct correlation between DNA damage and the amount of exposure to cigarette smoke.

Todd Raybuck, an officer of 14 years with the Las Vegas Metro Police Department, spoke against the passage of the initiative appearing on November's ballot allowing the sale, use and possession of one ounce or less of marijuana by those at least 21 years old.

Raybuck said a parent's role is important to what choices their child makes.

"With parents who smoke marijuana, their kids are nine times more likely to smoke marijuana," Raybuck said.

"Question 7 says smoking pot is just part of growing up," he said. "No one's going to convince me that legalizing pot will make Nevada a better place."

n Question 4:

Shall Nevada Revised Statues be amended in order to prohibit smoking tobacco in certain public places, except all areas of casinos, gaming areas within establishments holding gaming licenses, bars and certain other locations?

n Question 5:

Shall Nevada Revised Statutes be amended in order to prohibit smoking tobacco in certain public places, in all bars with a food-handling license, but excluding gaming areas of casino and certain other locations?

n Question 7:

Shall amendments be made in order to allow and regulate the sale, use and possession of one ounce or less of marijuana by persons at least 21 years of age, and increase criminal penalties for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol?

For a complete list of ballot questions, go to the Nevada Secretary of State's Web site at www.sos.state.nv.us/nvelection/2006BallotQuestionGuide.pdf