Maryland - Smoking To Be Banned In Howard County Parks

[Vap0rJay]

No mention about e-cigs... I wonder if they are going to be included in the ban?!?

Smoking To Be Banned In Howard County Parks « CBS Baltimore

Once again, it's "for the children"

“I think in a park setting, there’s a lot more kids and that’s why I think it’s more important to ban it at a park than at a bar,”

I knew it was only a matter of time before MD jumped on the nanny bus
I have a bad feeling this is only the begining too.............

 

[Alžběta Madragana]

I agree. I live in Cresson, about 20 miles north of Granbury Texas and last year they put a citywide ban on smoking in ANY public places. Period. Do it and get a $500,- ticket. I was afraid to ask what happens the second time.. Granbury is a small town that relies heavily on retirees and tourism. The focal point of Granbury is the Town Square. Smoking is absolutely forbidden there. (Of course I've vaped there and nobody said anything)...
I believe the day is coming when someone here will post something saying they got a ticket for vaping! Coz the cop THOUGHT they were smoking and could not understand the difference. Give it time - it's coming.
They can all go stick it, coz I'm a VAPER 4 Life.
*the previous is only my opinion*

 

[Vocalek]

Somehow, I think it will be a long time before Prince George's County follows suit. Howard County must be relatively crime-free in comparison, if their police force has the time to go chasing smokers through the parks.

 

[BoiseMike]

Shoot! Hasn't Maryland been driving the nanny bus? Or at least riding shotgun for California? Every day I'm glad I left that state in '97 after 30+ years there. "The Free State" is a misnomer.

I knew it was only a matter of time before MD jumped on the nanny bus
I have a bad feeling this is only the begining too.............

 

[Bill Godshall]

I'm pretty confident (as I was tipped off several days ago) that this outdoor smoking ban on Howard County property occurred via the issuance of an executive order by the county executive (i.e. it wasn't enacted by the county council, nor was it approved as a public health regulation by the Board of Health).

I'm also pretty confident (as that's what I was told several days ago) that this is the first time an executive order has been issued in Maryland to ban outdoor smoking on property owned/managed by a local government.

As such, Howard County's outdoor smoking ban might be successfully challenged via a court challenge (e.g. by someone who is fined for smoking at a county park, and who challenges the County Executive's authority to unilaterally ban smoking outdoors and/or to fine violators).

Since this appears to be a first for a local Maryland government., I suspect that Howard County's outdoor smoking ban doesn't include e-cigarette usage.

 

[Vap0rJay]

Shoot! Hasn't Maryland been driving the nanny bus? Or at least riding shotgun for California? Every day I'm glad I left that state in '97 after 30+ years there. "The Free State" is a misnomer.

Gawd I know I want out I have to admit that when that fantastic day does finally get here, I will miss the crabs

 

[hairball]

I'm thinking out loud. Does anyone see a pattern going on here and I don't mean with just MD? Follow me on this and if you think I'm way off base, say so or some input.

The FDA backed down in a sense. However, what would stop the FDA from telling states/counties to put bans on the vaping community? Nothing. Don't you think that that's what is happening? Take a look at how many places are banning the use of ecigs. Something isn't right in the hen house. I still think the FDA is behind all of this and the said places are using children as an excuse to place bans (or so that is what I think the FDA is telling them to do). I wouldn't be surprised if these places are getting some extra tax breaks or tax help for imposing the ban. I hope you see where I'm going with this and what I think is going on behind closed doors.

 

[hairball]

Gawd I know I want out I have to admit that when that fantastic day does finally get here, I will miss the crabs

I left MD in 1988. Yes, you will miss the crabs! I only go back to see my folks, dip my toes in the ocean, and pig out on crabs. Other than that, I wouldn't go.

 

[Placebo Effect]

E-cigs are not included

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDERED AND PROCLAIMED by the County Executive of
Howard County, Maryland, that, under the authority granted by the Charter and Laws of Howard
County, Maryland, that, in accordance with Section 12-601(t) of the Howard County Code, Smoking
is defined as the act of smoking, inhaling smoke from a hookah or water pipe, or carrying a lighted
cigar, cigarette, pipe, bidi of any kind, or any lighted tobacco or lighting tobacco or lighting a cigar,
cigarette, pipe, bidi, or any kind, or tobacco of any kind; and it is further

 

[Thulium]

I'm thinking out loud. Does anyone see a pattern going on here and I don't mean with just MD? Follow me on this and if you think I'm way off base, say so or some input.

The FDA backed down in a sense. However, what would stop the FDA from telling states/counties to put bans on the vaping community? Nothing. Don't you think that that's what is happening? Take a look at how many places are banning the use of ecigs. Something isn't right in the hen house. I still think the FDA is behind all of this and the said places are using children as an excuse to place bans (or so that is what I think the FDA is telling them to do). I wouldn't be surprised if these places are getting some extra tax breaks or tax help for imposing the ban. I hope you see where I'm going with this and what I think is going on behind closed doors.

You are on the right track, but it's not really the FDA behind it as much as its the Corporations who are behind the FDA who are behind it. The FDA was created to protect consumers from unscrupulous Food, Drug, and Cosmetic companies, but instead Tobacco has been made The Ultimate Scapegoat and instead of protecting us from those companies, the FDA considers Pharmaceutical companies to be their "customers" and sets astronomical User Fees to protect Big Pharma from competition from smaller companies.

 

[Vap0rJay]

You are on the right track, but it's not really the FDA behind it as much as its the Corporations who are behind the FDA who are behind it. The FDA was created to protect consumers from unscrupulous Food, Drug, and Cosmetic companies, but instead Tobacco has been made The Ultimate Scapegoat and instead of protecting us from those companies, the FDA considers Pharmaceutical companies to be their "customers" and sets astronomical User Fees to protect Big Pharma from competition from smaller companies.

 

[Bill Godshall]

hairball wrote:

However, what would stop the FDA from telling states/counties to put bans on the vaping community?

Although former FDA Deputy Commissioner Josh Sharfstein attempted to ban the import of e-cigarettes (by claiming they were unapproved drug devices) and although Sharfstein held a press conference and intentionally misrepresented the health/safety risks of e-cigarettes, the marketing of e-cigarettes, and the FDA's laboratory test results on e-cigarettes (in an attempt to scare the public and win the lawsuit filed against FDA by SE and NJOY), the FDA hasn't endorsed or advocated e-cigarette usage restrictions.

Rather, ANR, ACS, AHA, ALA, several other anti smoking groups, and some local Health Dept officials have been advocating e-cigarette usage bans, and they've been repeating some 2009 FDA propaganda when doing so.

We already know who our opposition is on different policy issues. So lets works to defeat their proposals.

It isn't helpful to promote, repeat, or give credence to inaccurate conspiracy theories.

 

[Alžběta Madragana]

...hark back to an old '70s bumper sticker I remember, but MODDed for 2011: "When E-CIGS are outlawed, only OUTLAWS will have E-CIGS"...
I will vape until the day they put me in the ground. Period. One way or another, we vapers will vape and we will stick together with our Mods, juice and batteries..
Just sayin'