OKLAHOMA
CITY – Governor Mary Fallin
today announced plans to put tobacco regulations aimed at reducing second hand
smoke to a vote of the people.
Fallin, who was joined
by community leaders and health care professionals at an event hosted by the
American Cancer Society, said she would lead an initiative petition drive on the
issue. While details of the petition have not yet been finalized, Fallin
announced the creation of a new website, www.DontSmokeOnMe.com, where Oklahomans can
sign up to receive more information.
Secondhand smoke
contains more than 7,000 chemicals, including hundreds that are toxic and
approximately 70 that can cause cancer. It causes an estimated 46,000 heart
disease deaths and 3,400 lung cancer deaths annually among adult nonsmokers in
the United
States.
"Improving health and
wellness in Oklahoma is a priority for me," said Fallin.
"Any plan that seeks to improve health outcomes will have to address tobacco.
Smoking is the number one cause of preventable death in Oklahoma, killing 6,000
men and women each year. Hundreds of these people aren't even smokers, and have
instead fallen ill as a result of second hand
smoke."
"It's time to let voters
decide whether or not they want clean air in public places like bars and
restaurants. I believe the answer will be ‘yes.'"
