Feature Article

On Tuesday November 8, 2005, voters in Washington State overwhelmingly passed Initiative 901, a statewide law that prohibits smoking in all indoor public places and places of employment.  Washington becomes only the second state, behind Florida, to approve a smokefree law by ballot initiative.  It was abundantly clear that voters in the state wanted to breathe clean air.  Voters in every county voted in favor of the initiative, with a final margin of 64% to 37%.

Washington became the tenth state to prohibit smoking in all indoor workplaces, including restaurants and bars. The other states with comprehensive smokefree laws are California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.  Montana's statewide law will not apply to bars until 2009.)  Several other states have statewide laws that require smokefree workplaces but provide an exemption for bars.  Washington's law, which will be effective beginning on December 8, is considered the most comprehensive statewide law to date.  In addition to indoor workplaces, it forbids lighting up within 25 feet of doors, windows and vents.  Passers-by are exempted.  First-time violators will face warnings, and after that each violation will be punishable by a maximum $100 fine.

Initiative 901 had enormous support from the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association and American Lung Association, as well as hundreds of individual donors.  In all, the campaign raised more than $1.3 million. For more information on this measure, go to http://www.healthyindoorairwa.org/.