Health and criminal justice laws taking effect in Maryland
New laws to protect health and strengthen criminal justice are taking effect in Maryland.
Baltimore officials consider new laws to curb smoking
Elected officials in Baltimore are considering new laws to cut down on smoking and vaping.
Rockville bans smoking in outdoor restaurant, bar areas
ROCKVILLE — The Rockville City Council voted to prohibit smoking or vaping in open-air sections of restaurants and bars, becoming only the second Maryland locality to mandate smoke-free outdoor drinking and dining. With a 4-to-1 vote on Monday night, Rockville will join La Plata along with more than 230 jurisdictions and four states in passing […]
FDA issues warning letters to ‘natural’ tobacco makers
NEW YORK — The Food and Drug Administration issued warning letters to the makers of Winston, Natural Spirit and Nat Sherman cigarettes over their “additive-free” and “natural” label claims. The agency issued the warnings to ITG Brands LLC, Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company Inc. and Sherman’s 1400 Broadway N.Y.C. Ltd. The issue over the claims […]
Legislator calls for study on smoking at Md. casinos
ANNAPOLIS — Maryland could be leaving additional casino revenue on the table because of a statewide ban on indoor smoking, according to one state delegate Del. Jay Walker, D-Prince Georges County, said he believes the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency should undertake a study to determine if Maryland casinos, and in turn the state, […]
Ocean City plans for smoking restrictions
(Capital News Service) Smoking restrictions on the beach and Boardwalk in Ocean City will take effect next year, and city officials are working out the details for the 2015 vacation season. Ocean City officials adopted an ordinance designating smoking areas on Aug. 26. The restrictions will go into effect May 1, but city staffers need […]
Hopkins’ public health school bans tobacco – sort of
Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health just announced the launch of its “Tobacco-Free Campus Initiative,” but that’s a bit of a misnomer.
Md. colleges join movement to snuff out student smoking
About one-third of Maryland colleges and universities have decided to follow a recent national trend to ban smoking on college campuses. The majority of institutions clearing the air are community colleges and the 10 campuses within the University System of Maryland, which adopted a system-wide smoke-free policy last year. Only two private schools in the […]
Law blog roundup
Welcome to Monday, the 35th anniversary of this song hitting No. 1. Here are some news items to get the week started. — Congress takes aim at patent trolls. — Couples wage legal challenges to Texas’ ban on same-sex marriage. — Virginia county seeks constitutional noise ordinance. — Cigarette distributors might get burned in tax […]
Advocates’ stance: higher tax, less smoking
The head of a group that spearheaded a $1 increase in the state’s tobacco tax five years ago wants another increase to combat what he called stagnated smoking rates among adults and children.
40 attorneys general urge tight regulation of e-cigarettes
BOSTON — Forty attorneys general sent a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday urging the agency to meet its own deadline and regulate electronic cigarettes in the same way it regulates tobacco products. The letter, co-sponsored by Massachusetts Attorney Martha Coakley and Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, says e-cigarettes are being […]
UMD to research novel tobacco products
Are electronic cigarettes less harmful than the rolled-paper kind, as their manufacturers claim? How does menthol change a cigarette’s toxicity levels? Why do many individuals develop loyalties to certain brands of tobacco?