Smoking ban in L.A. extrends to parks, but you can light up on golf courses.

[LiberalHeart]

Last November, Ohio approved an extensive smoking ban that is not enforced much because there were no rules and penalties hammered out before it was approved by voters. Now they're weakening the restrictions somewhat after holding public hearings -- but meanwhile California continues to be one of the leaders in clearing the air (making the state very appealing to someone like me, with COPD):

http://newsgrinder.blogspot.com/2007/03/no-ifs-ands-or-butts-about-it-no.html

[Bake]

1. Great! A smoking thread!

You know what? When the factories stop pumping TONS of their shit into the air, THAT'S when I'll worry about the smoke from my cigarette that I smoke OUTDOORS. Until then, all the Smoke Nazis can kiss my great big entire ASS. Once you've gotten all the tailpipes off the road and the street corner, once you've gotten all the factory stovepipes to shut down, THEN AND ONLY THEN can youbitch about my puny little cigarette that you're so allergic to.

Bake

[The Straight Story]

2. Word up with that - I was reading bakersfield.com earlier

they were talking about things you loved and hated about the town (Bakersfield, CA). Most hated the smog and pollution.

but hey, they can go to bar and not have to worry about smoke, so they are A-OK....

[Jonathan50]

3. Tobacco should be classifed as a schedule one drug.

Totally illegal, like cannabis...

Then you can go to a "drug dealer" to get your tobacco..

Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander..

[Bake]

4. I'm there with you!

There is no reason on EARTH why cannabis should be illegal! If Big Pharma had a monopoly on it, it WOULD be legal (and ridiculously expensive)!

Bake

[The Straight Story]

5. I want it legalized as well - let's see if our elected officials will move on that

I doubt it, but one can hope.

[Bake]

6. Show me where ALL the cigiarette smokers do as much damage as one city bus

And I swear to God I'll put down my ciggs, GLADLY, and never light up again,

Bake

[bluetrain]

7. COPD = Crucifying Other People Disorder?

I live in LA. Having an outdoor smoking ban here, here, of all places, when you can't go outside without your eyes stinging from vehicle fumes at any hour of the day except the midmost midst of the middle of the night when few people are on the road, is insane and stupid. Give me functional public transportation for this town. Give me a train line that goes, at the very least, from Los Feliz to Santa Monica and hooks up with the North Hollywood to Hollywood to Downtown line. You cut down traffic by 2/3rds and you're still not going to be able to see the ocean or the mountains on a normal day unless you're at the top of Runyon Canyon at 6am. Cigarettes in LA are the least of our worries when it comes to filthy fucking air. Ban cars here. Maybe this city will, actually, start looking and feeling like a city if people are on the sidewalks and dealing with each other one on one and forced to engage with other human beings and their own neighborhoods. Maybe I won't have to swerve around drunk drivers constantly if they have the option to take a train. Maybe lives can be saved if cars are banned in Los Angeles. The air will certainly be cleaner than it will be from having people smoke in secrecy.

Really, anyone who is so sensitive that they can't be around a lit cigarette should not be living in any metropolitan area, particularly, LA. Our air is "toxic". Move out to the woods.