North Carolina fight soon to start.

[poeticwomyn]

Today (May 19) is the day that our governor, Bev Perdue, has said she is signing the smoking ban in ALL public places. All restaurants, bars, everyplace. The reason this is relevant to this forum is that this is going to bring vaping to the forefront here, as it has in other places.
I am already allowed to vape in several places that are completely smoke-free, but this may be a moot point, as the legislature will, I am sure, rush to close what in their ignorance they will see as a loophole that will need to be plugged.
Any advice from legal types/activist types on how to head this off? I know other states are already having this problem.
DYSLEXICS OF THE WORLD, UNTIE!

Thanks,
Jim

Hi all, my partner has spoken with Jan Cummings of the FDA. even though she (Ms Cummings) does not have to do with the decision making she requested that emails be sent to the following email address and she will then forward them to the FDA dicision makers. Ms. Cummings needs as many emails as soon as possible. She would like for the subject line to say "Electronic Cigarette" then a well thought out email stating our side of why e-cigs should not be banned. Thank you for taking the time to consider sending the email, Kat
Please send emails to reglist@cdrh.fda.gov and remember the subject line needs to say only "electronic cigarettes"

[mamacat]

Hi all, my partner has spoken with Jan Cummings of the FDA. even though she (Ms Cummings) does not have to do with the decision making she requested that emails be sent to the following email address and she will then forward them to the FDA dicision makers. Ms. Cummings needs as many emails as soon as possible. She would like for the subject line to say "Electronic Cigarette" then a well thought out email stating our side of why e-cigs should not be banned. Thank you for taking the time to consider sending the email, Kat
Please send emails to reglist@cdrh.fda.gov and remember the subject line needs to say only "electronic cigarettes"

Kat, thanks for the info! I will certainly do my part. (Love your avatar - looks like a Laurel Birch kitty!)

[mamacat]

OMG - She signed it but did you hear???? You can be fined $50 as a user and any manager can be fined $200 for NOT complying with this new bill!! Again, OMG! What in the world is going on besides a new revenue raising scheme? This is the number one tobacco producing state in the US! The anti-smoking vigilantes will be lurking in the shadows........

[mamacat]

If your bars are "private," like most in WS, then they will be able to skirt this ban. The ban does not apply to private clubs (i.e., country clubs will be able to still maintain cigar bars).

I stand corrected on the ban not effecting "private bars / clubs." Here is a link to an article that ran in the local fishwrap this morning.

How Will It Change Nightlife? Bars and clubs could assume new personas after N.C.'s smoking ban takes effect

This story is part of a series, so I will keep you up-to-date on the happenings as they are reported.

[newwithteflon]

I live in NC as well and still can't believe this.

[sherlockian]

As a resident of Charlotte, NC I agree that this law is absolutely garbage. As a young person who occasionally enjoys a RYO cigarette, I've already been hassled by our very own CMPD a number of times for smoking a perfectly legal plant. I'm pretty freaking sick of the condescension directed toward minority groups (be they groups of color or sexual orientation or groups of smokers) within my slice of the conservative holier-than-thou-art Carolinas. I do a great deal of volunteer work in underprivileged elementary schools, and because of some of the pitiful social conditions of some of my students I just wonder why Bev can't spend a little bit more time focusing on relevant social issues rather than further alienating the "others."