From the Executive Director

The American Lung Association recently released its annual state-by-state report on tobacco control laws, and the results weren't pretty for Ohio. Our state took home an ugly report card - two F's and two C's. The Lung Association gave Ohio F's in the smoke-free air and youth access categories. Ohio received C's for tobacco prevention and control spending and for its cigarette tax. Clearly, there is a lot of room for improvement.

In terms of smoke-free air, the Lung Association report measures only statewide laws, which explains why Ohio received an F. However, even though Ohio does not yet have a statewide smoke-free workplace law, several local communities around Ohio, including Columbus, have implemented clean indoor air ordinances during the past year. In addition to the ongoing effort to put a statewide smoke-free law on the ballot this year, local communities are continuing to build momentum towards a smoke-free Ohio. Heath, Granville, and Newark (all in Licking County) began 2006 by starting enforcement of their smoke-free ordinances, and Summit County's county-wide smoke-free law will take effect February 28.

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