Take A Stand Against Smoking In Public Places And Businesses!

At the 2002 AMA-MSS Interim meeting, the MSS passed the following resolution:

RESOLVED, That our AMA encourage state medical societies (in collaboration with other anti-tobacco organizations) to support the introduction of local and state legislation in 2003 that prohibits smoking in public places and businesses; and be it further

RESOLVED, That our AMA update draft model state legislation to prohibit smoking in public places and businesses, which would include language that would prohibit preemption of stronger local laws; and be it further

RESOLVED, That our AMA encourage individual medical students, residents, and physicians - as well as medical schools, hospitals, clinics, and physician practices to endorse, support, and lobby for local and state legislation where needed to prohibit smoking in public places and businesses.

What You Can Do

• Building A Smokescreen (No Legislation)
• Smokescreen In Sight (Legislation Under Consideration)

Disclaimer
Some of the web sites on this page include some external links provided for informational purposes only. Although sites are evaluated and reviewed, the AMA does not assume responsibility for content of other Web sites.

Building A Smokescreen: No Proposed Legislation In Your Area

Start by educating yourself on the climate for smokefree legislation. The MSS Committee on Scientific Issues created an informational pamphlet (PDF, 495KB). The following organizations also offer numerous resources you can use to learn more about this issue:

AMA
The AMA is part of the SmokeLess States National Tobacco Policy Initiative, a private sector effort that supports activities of statewide coalitions working to improve the tobacco policy environment with the goal of reducing tobacco use.

Smokefree Action Network
Sign up on the Smokefree Action Network. This site allows you to send sample letters to your governor, encouraging him/her to draft such legislation. It also has a listserv that will keep you updated on movements in your state. Their web site also provides a directory of other local coalitions, indexed by state.

Health Associations/Organizations
Hopefully, you are able to find a local health organization working on smokefree workplace rights on the SmokeLess States web page or Smokefree Action Network. If not, here are some groups that can connect you to local advocacy/events:

• American Lung Association
• American Heart Association
• American Cancer Society

Smokescreen In Sight: Smokefree Workplace Legislation Up For Consideration/Vote In Your City/County/State

Educate Yourself
Just because someone has introduced a local smokefree workplaces bill does NOT mean that you should support it, sight unseen. You have to do your homework and background research.

• Find out what the legislation entails by contacting:
  • Local media: check out your local newspaper(s) or
  • go to http://www.tobacco.org to obtain a collection of articles on your state’s movements
• Contact local health organizations/anti-tobacco groups to get their perspective on the proposed legislation. After first contact, keep in touch so that you can stay informed of changes in legislation and votes, and work with them to formulate the most effective approach to passing smokefree legislation in your area.
  
  • American Lung Association
  • American Heart Association
  • American Cancer Society
  • Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids
  • Americans for Nonsmokers Rights
  • Tobacco Scam
  • For links to other local coalitions

Educate Others/Form Coalitions

• Your AMA membership: Inform them about AMA policy and proposed local smokefree workplace legislation. Organize a forum/meeting with your student body.
• Forum: invite other student organizations (SNMA, AMSA, PSR, etc.) and all of the student body
  • Let them know about the AMA’s policy on smokefree workplace legislation
  • Inform them about the importance of smokefree workplace legislation in protecting the health of workers.
  • Encourage attendees to get involved in your grassroots campaign

The NY Public Interest Research Group prepared a second-hand smoke fact sheet, which answers several questions about the health consequences of inhaling second-hand smoke. Also, it contains several statistics regarding the economic impact of smokefree workplace legislation.

The American Cancer Society has some great information resources as well:

• Facts on second hand smoke
• Economics of smokefree workplaces
• Smokefree states/cities as of September 2002

Action!

• Letter Writing Campaign: This has been an instrumental part of grassroots campaigns. The letter informs your representative about your concerns about smoking in the workplace and urges them to support the legislation outlawing smoking in workplaces.
  • Use the sample letter as a starting point and modify it based on your local legislation
  • Make copies of your finalized letter to be sent to your city council member/mayor/governor
  • Get as many letters signed by your student body as possible
  • Keep sending the letters in!
• Utilize your local anti-tobacco group contacts—they are invaluable! Find out how changes/amendments to the legislation will affect policy implementation (weaker/stronger) and their perspective on the bill’s potential for passage.
• Sign up on the Smokefree Action Network This network has several valuable links for fighting tobacco on the state and national level as well as listservs for updates. We strongly urge you to sign up if you want updates on progress of smokefree legislation in your state.

Update on Smoke-Free States

AMA-Medical Student Section Update on Smoke-Free States