http://www.startribune.com/…

What started as a quirky idea to get around the statewide smoking ban appears to be spreading like wildfire.Dozens of bars are expected to stage “theater nights” this weekend in which patrons are dubbed actors. The law, which went into effect in October, permits performers to smoke during a theatrical production. “Two weeks ago, we had one bar doing this,” said Mark Benjamin, a criminal defense attorney who launched the theater-night idea. He estimates 50 to 100 bars could be on tap for theater nights this weekend based on phone calls, e-mails and requests for the how-to-stage-a-theater-night packet that he’s devised. And many bar owners are passing on the information quickly among themselves without getting in contact with him.

State Health Department officials didn’t return calls Thursday, but said earlier this week that they are waiting for a state attorney general’s opinion on the legality of theater nights. State legislators who championed the ban said last week that the loophole likely will be plugged and the bar theater nights will end.

And Karen De Coster over at LRC writes:

Imagine the lobbying that went on which allows smoking during a “theatrical production” while it is banned nearly everywhere else? Just how invasive is the Minnesota smoking ban? Right here it states that:

The Minnesota law applies to bars, restaurants, private clubs such as VFWs and American Legion halls, bowling alleys, country club lounges, lobbies of hotels and motels, public transportation, taxis, home offices where employees work or customers visit, home day cares when children are present, and smaller commercial vehicles carrying more than one person.

Home offices and smaller commercial vehicles? Surely that will be easily enforced. Exemptions include privileged people, places, and things such as Indian casinos and lands, “scientific studies, sleeping rooms of hotels and motels, tobacco shops, small family farms, traditional Native American ceremonies, and theater productions. Smoking would also be permitted at the Disabled Veterans Rest Camp in Washington County, and locked psychiatric wards.”

While I love what they are doing I’d hope that all those participating in these things actually get out and try to get smoking relegalized instead of eventually creating tobacco speak easies. There is already a large black market for tobacco. I see it every day in NYC. Guys standing outside subway stations quietly saying “Newports, Newports” as people stream by. Everyone from blue collar men in construction dress to white collar Wall St. suits purchase their wares. How sad it is that the government has put these people in a position to do this.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/…

A government advisor has suggested that the problem of Brits continuing to smoke themselves to death might be tackled by requiring nicotine addicts to obtain a £200 annual licence, the Telegraph reports.

Professor Julian le Grand, a “former advisor to Tony Blair” who is a lecturer in social policy at the London School of Economics and “advises ministers through his chairmanship of Health England”, made his proposal this week as a Department of Health report said that while “smoking prevalence is falling among both males and females”, far too many of us are popping our clogs as a result of coronary disease and other smoking-related ailments.

Accordingly, and since simply raising the price of gaspers has not in the past convinced hardened smokers to quit, le Grand declared that “requiring them to fill in forms, and have photographs taken in order to apply for a permit would prove a more effective deterrent”.

The master plan is to issue an initial yearly fag permit, and once up and running, the scheme could be “extended so smokers had to get a doctor’s signature that their health was not at ‘massive risk’ by smoking in order to get a licence”.

They have no shame. They make no attempt to hide their nanny state push. I kindof want this to gain traction and be implemented. Soon they’ll be stopping people on the street asking for their smoking papers. Afterwards they can put high taxes on fatty foods. When people don’t stop eating unhealthy food the government can then introduce a license. You’ll be given fatty credits when you register the healthy foods you eat and how much you’ve exercised. With a note from your NHS doctor of course. Later if they suspect that your eating habits have lead to some problem NHS will be sure to place you at the end of the line. Why should the government and therefore the people have to pay for your bad habits?

http://www.usatoday.com/…

Lawmakers in two California cities are casting votes this month on unprecedented legislation that would widen a growing voluntary movement by landlords and resident associations to ban smoking inside apartments and condos.

Today in Calabasas, the City Council plans to vote on expanding its anti-smoking law to bar renters from lighting up inside existing apartments. It would exempt current resident smokers until they moved but would require all new buildings with at least 15 units, including condos, to be smoke-free.

Next Tuesday, the City Council of Belmont is scheduled to cast a final vote on a similar measure that won initial approval last week. The ordinance, which applies to apartments and condos, would allow fines and evictions if neighbors complained and smokers didn’t heed warnings.

The legislative push, which has triggered death threats against council members, is a controversial part of a mostly voluntary effort to prod landlords and condo associations to adopt smoke-free policies.

Seems I forgot to post this one the other day. As expected this passed/will pass. It’s really sad how little property rights matter today. If second hand smoke was such a dangerous pollutant the true enforcement of private property and a public demand to find the effects would regulate it.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/…

A sandwich seller who passed food to pupils through the school gates was asked to move on by the police.

Children began placing orders at Michael Daley’s shop this term after their school banned them from leaving the grounds at lunchtime without permission.

Some did not want to eat the meals in the canteen - so they phoned their requests to Mr Daley instead.

Although the pupils were delighted with his deliveries, the school was not.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/…

A smoker is facing years of pain after an NHS hospital refused to set his broken ankle unless he gives up cigarettes.

John Nuttall, 57, needs the operation to fix the ankle he broke in three places two years ago and which was not healed by a plaster cast.

Doctors at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro have refused to operate to rebuild the ankle because they say Mr Nuttall’s heavy smoking would reduce the chance of a full recovery.

A spokesman for the hospital trust said: “Smoking has a very big influence on the outcome of this type of surgery and the healing process would be hindered significantly.”

Evil southern chicken wraps are killing British students! Run for the hills!! My high school didn’t let us leave for lunch and barely gave us anything worth eating. Even the burgers were crap. I ended up eating salads for 2+ years because they charged per salad and not weight. All meat and cheese salads are good. This is sad. These are young adults. They are perfectly capable of choosing what to eat. Mr Crossan is just worried of losing his Healthy School status.

As for the smoker… what was that about universal healthcare? I’m glad the NHS are more than happy to prescribe Mr Nuttall morphine but won’t fix the ankle causing the pain. If I were him I’d be selling that morphine to the highest bidder and buy the surgery from a private firm… if he can. He’s more than welcome to come to the States. Maybe Michael Moore could pick up the tab. Maybe he could break it again and go to the emergency room?

http://www.kxmb.com/…
A workplace safety issue? Where people ‘have’ to work? Funny… Morgan Stanley doesn’t force me to work in the conditions I do. Nor have any of my jobs. I have the choice to work elsewhere or to request my employer to not allow something in my workplace. It’s a voluntary action performed on private property. If the governments wish to ban smoking in their workplaces they are welcome to it but I don’t see anything in the Constitution regarding a national smoking ban.

http://www.sfgate.com/…

Former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., told a 2008 presidential candidates’ forum on cancer Monday that he would favor a nationwide federal ban on smoking in public places.

Edwards initially declined to directly answer a question posed by moderator Chris Matthews about whether the Constitution would permit the federal government to adopt a ban on smoking in public places.

“That’s an interesting question,” said Edwards, a veteran trial lawyer. “I’d have to think of that as a lawyer. … I’d have to give that more thought than I could on stage.”

He had to think about it? Shouldn’t a lawyer know? No, it’s not permissible. You still support a national smoking ban? Let me know when your amendment legitimately allowing the federal government to prohibit smoking gets passed.