Stables, Timothy's Fine Tobacco Exempted from State Smoking Ban

Legislature Passes Ban After 10 Years; Health Officials Rejoice

December 13, 2009
By: Dave Rogers

Tim Socier thinks the smoking ban passed this week will be good for his Timothy's Fine Cigars.

In fact he's planning to expand and upgrade his cigar store, Timothy's Fine Cigars, at 115 Center Ave., Bay City, in time to handle increased traffic when the ban takes effect next May.

"It's good news for us, but bad news for our personal rights," said Mr. Socier.

Art Dore, on the other hand, has to prove that he does 10 percent of his business at the Stables in cigars in order to avoid the smoking ban. "I still need to check the law, but I think we will qualify," he said Friday night.

The smoking ban has been proposed for 10 years in the Michigan Legislature and Gov. Jennifer Granholm is poised to sign the bill as soon as it reaches her desk, according to Lansing sources.

The ban applies to all bars, restaurants and workplaces, exempting cigar bars like the Stables in the Dore Riverview Complex on Midland Street in Bay City, Timothy's in Bay City and Nolan's in Traverse City tobacco specialty stores, homes, vehicles and the three Detroit casinos.

Cigarettes are not allowed anywhere under any circumstances, according to provisions of the law.

Mr. Socier and other cigar store owners formed the Michigan Cigar Association (MTA) earlier this year to act as a lobbying group. Mike Nolan of Nolan's Tobacco, Traverse City, is president of the MTA.

Meanwhile, health officials were rejoicing over the ban's approval even though it exempts casino gaming floors and does not cover Indian casinos that are on federal territory.

The bill is not perfect because it exempts existing state casinos, however it does limit smoking to gaming floors only," said Judy L. Stewart of the American Cancer Society, Great Lakes Division, adding:

"It also exempts cigar bars and specialty shops but narrowly defines these exemptions. Despite these slight flaws, we wholeheartedly support the passage of this bill based on the realities of the political challenges we face in this state. An additional positive aspect of the bill is it makes any future state casinos 100 percent smoke-free.

"As we move forward, the American Cancer Society will continue to work to fine tune this legislation to assure that every single worker in this state is protected from secondhand smoke."

"It's the single greatest thing we can do to improve the health of Michigan residents," said Sharon Sheldon, Washtenaw County (Ann Arbor) program manager for health promotion and disease management.

Ms. Sheldon does not expect that the state's economy would be affected by the ban. "It hasn't hurt restaurants in any other place where this has been done, and Michigan isn't any different," she said.

Polling earlier this year by the EPIC-MRA group in Lansing found that an estimated 66 percent of Michigan respondents supported the smoking ban. Of that number, some 52 percent "strongly" favored it.

Some health advocates feel the ban doesn't go far enough, but the exceptions were considered a necessary compromise to get the legislation adopted. The House passed the ban by a 75-30 vote Thursday after the Senate had approved it 24-13.

Michigan will become the 38th state to with laws that ban or limit smoking in public places such as government buildings and bars and restaurants.

State Rep. Lee Gonzales, D-Flint Twp., who introduced the bill, said the ban is in the interest of public health. And, former state Rep. Brenda Clack, D-Flint, who futilely tried to get a ban passed during her terms in office, was elated with the news.

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"The BUZZ" - Feedback From Readers

mosher Says:       On December 22, 2009 at 08:49 AM It's good that cigar and hookah bars can still exist here, for those enjoyments rarely become addictions. We like the pubs of Midland Street--Duso's, River Rock, Arlington--and bands at White's Bar in Saginaw, but rarely went because of cigarette smoke. Now we'll be able to support them. Our friends and neighbors who are cigarette addicts are in our prayers, this Christmas and always. May they conquer their burden in 2010, live long and healthy.

Agree? or Disagree? Leave a Comment!

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Dave Rogers
Dave Rogers is a former editorial writer for the Bay City Times and a widely read, respected journalist/writer in and around Bay City. More from Dave Rogers

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