Covid-Era Smoking Ban In Atlantic City Casinos Ends Sunday
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed the order, but noted he'd look favorably on future bills to permanently ban smoking in Casinos -- something campaigners are already asking for. Pot smoking, vaping, heated tobacco and more are also in the news.
AP:
New Jersey Gamblers Can Light Up Sunday As Smoking Ban Ends
New Jersey’s yearlong coronavirus-inspired ban on smoking in Atlantic City casinos will end Sunday, just in time for the Fourth of July holiday. Gov. Phil Murphy said Wednesday that an order he signed ending a public health emergency contained a “sunset” provision winding down the smoking ban within 30 days, which is Sunday. (Parry, 7/1)
Press of Atlantic City:
Casino Workers Call On State Officials To Ban Indoor Smoking Permanently
More than 50 casino workers and representatives from Smoke Free Atlantic City and the United Auto Workers gathered on the Boardwalk on Wednesday to call for state and industry officials to permanently ban smoking on the casino floor. Casinos have been operating smoke-free since last year when a temporary ban was initiated by Gov. Phil Murphy shortly after the casinos reopened in July following COVID-19 related closures. That ban ends Sunday. (Shelly, 6/30)
In other news about smoking —
Darien Daily Voice:
Designated Pot-Smoking Areas May Be Required In Some CT Towns, Cities
As of Thursday, July 1, marijuana will be legalized for recreational use among adults in Connecticut, though as part of the legislation signed into law by Gov. Ned Lamont, some municipalities will have to create designated spaces outdoors intended for smoking weed. Cities with populations under 50,000 residents can say no to smoking in public, but those over 50,000 have two choices: if they decide to regulate where people can smoke, they must designate a location to allow them to do so or simply let them act as they please. (Failla, 6/30)
The New York Times:
What Happens To The ‘Weed Spot’ Now That Weed Is Legal?
When recreational marijuana was legalized in New York State in March, much of the change was not immediate. But there was one instantly observable difference: While it is not yet legal to sell or buy marijuana in New York, smoking a joint on the street is not a crime anymore. As long as they observe the same restrictions as on cigarettes, smokers can pretty much spark up where they like. This means the furtive trip to the “weed spot” — the reliably low-key loading dock, river cove, rooftop, whatever — is no longer required to smoke a blunt. And while some may miss the routine, that tends not to be the case for New Yorkers of color, who have been ticketed and arrested for marijuana possession at a far greater rate than others in the city. (Stevenson, 7/1)
New York Post:
To Quit Smoking, Vapes Are Better Than Nicotine Patches, Gum
As health experts continue to scrutinize the viability of e-cigarettes as a safe approach to smoking cessation, a new study funded by top cancer researchers in the UK has determined that vaping can be “more effective” than patches, gum and other nicotine replacement products for quitting. That’s good news for the estimated 21.5 million adult smokers — over half of all adult smokers in the US — who will attempt to quit smoking this year, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Sparks, 6/30)
Bloomberg:
BAT Says Switch To Heated Tobacco Helps Health Markers In Study
British American Tobacco Plc said smokers who switch to its heated-tobacco product had reduced their exposure to toxic chemicals linked to smoking-related illnesses in a study. Smokers who adopted BAT’s Glo product saw most indicators for the risk of lung cancer or cardiovascular disease drop to levels similar to those found in people who had quit smoking after six months, according to peer-reviewed research published Thursday. BAT funded and conducted the trial. (Gretler, 7/1)
North Carolina Health News:
Juul Settled With NC For $40 Million. Now What?
Kelly Kinard knows firsthand how quickly a teenager can become addicted to nicotine after experimenting with e-cigarettes and the flavored pods. Her son Luka was just 14 when he started vaping in his first year of high school in High Point. That would get him to the front row of the bleachers at football games and give him a sense of belonging when he walked up to a group of students who also were smoking. (Blythe, 7/1)
In related news about cancer screenings —
CIDRAP:
Sharp US Declines In Cancer Screening During Pandemic
Nearly 16 months after the COVID-19 pandemic began in the United States, new studies are showing just how far reaching the repercussions of the pandemic have been on the US population. A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published in Preventive Medicine shows sharp declines in both routine breast cancer and cervical cancer screenings, with screening for breast cancer declining 87% and cervical cancer screening declining 84% during April 2020 as compared with the previous 5-year averages for that month. (Soucheray, 6/30)
