SmokeFree Ohio Turns in Signatures for Nov. Ballot

SmokeFreeOhio turned in more than 185,000 signatures, including 16,638 signatures from Cuyahoga county voters, to the Ohio Secretary of State last week. Once certified, the SmokeFreeOhio initiative will put a smoke-free state law on the November ballot. This will let Ohio voters decide whether to make all public places and workplaces smoke-free. The AMC/NOMA supports these efforts, not only in partnering with the organization during the 2005 initiative campaign, but also in featuring the issue in an upcoming Healthlines radio program to air before the election as well. SmokeFreeOhio is pursuing a new state law, not a constitutional amendment. The first round of 100,000 signatures turned in last November put the SmokeFreeOhio proposal before Ohio lawmakers. After four months of legislative debate expired, SmokeFreeOhio had 90 days to collect another set of 100,000 signatures to put the issue before voters. For more information on these efforts, visit http://www.smokefreeohio.org/