Michigan's Smoking Ban

How People Feel about Michigan's Smoking Ban, and the Electronic Cigarette

Ann Arbor, Mich. - Dec. 18, 2009, Governor Granholm signed a smoking ban for all of Michigan, called the Dr. Ron Davis Law. The ban which is set to take action May 1s., prohibits smoking in several public areas such as; work places, bars, bowling alleys, restaurants, and even restaurant patio’s.

"Michigan joins 37 states that have already enacted similar bans." Stated journalist Nathan Bomey, writer for annarbor.com.

“The majority of Michigan workers will have a smoke-free work environment, and there will be less cases of cancer, asthma, heart disease, the list goes on and on…” said Judy Stewart in Bomey's article on annarbor.com. Stewart is a spokeswoman for the Campaign for Smokefree Air and director of state government relations for the Great Lakes Division of the American Cancer Society.



The only places exempt from this smoking ban are retail tobacco stores, cigar bars, and the three Detroit casino’s. These casino’s won’t experience many changes while the tobacco stores and cigar bars will be required to meet the bill’s requirements.

“Retail tobacco stores and cigar bars will now have a lot of extra paperwork to go through in order to maintain their current smoking policies. Both the retail tobacco stores and the cigar bars must complete paperwork every year and are subject to provide further documentation to ensure that the establishment meets the requirements laid out in the bill.” Stated Megan Mulder, at michiganpolicy.com.

The stipulations in the bill will make it hard for any bar that is trying to become a cigar bar. The bill states that cigar bars must have at least 10% of their total income from on site cigar sales. In addition to that, all cigars must retail over $1 and all other tobacco products will be prohibited.

While many people prefer a nonsmoking environment, there is an ongoing debate as to whether the ban is going to financially hurt restaurants, bars, and other establishments that largely depend on smoking clientele.

“Lance Binoniemi, head of government affairs for the Michigan Licensed Beverage Association, said a smoking ban would have a negative impact on smaller, family-owned bars and restaurants with a large customer base of smokers.” According to journalist Jeff Haywood at mlive.com.

As cigarette smokers are faced with the cruel reality, many people are turning to alternative way to get their nicotine fix. One of the most popular trends is the electronic cigarette, or as most people call it the ‘e-cigarette’.

What are electronic cigarettes?

Electronic cigarettes are rechargeable, refillable, battery operated cigarettes. They feel similar to cigarettes but work completely different than normal cigarettes.

“Each electronic cigarette or "e-cig" has a battery, an atomizer, and a cartridge filled with a liquid nicotine solution. Upon inhalation, a device is switched on which sends a signal to a heating element inside of the unit, called an "Atomizer". According to 'e-cigarette' website electroniccigarettesinc.com.

The e-cig atomizer heats up quickly and vaporizes the liquid nicotine solution into a vapor that replicates the look and feel of smoke.

"My buddy owns an electronic cigarette and i've tried it. They feel very close to the real thing. I think it would be a good idea if people started smoking these instead of the real thing." Said Kevin Graef, barback at Ann Arbors gay and lesbian bar, Aut Bar.

There is a lot of scrutiny as to how safe these electronic cigarette’s are.

“Because these products have not been submitted to the FDA for evaluation or approval, at this time the agency has no way of knowing, except for the limited testing it has performed, the levels of nicotine or the amounts or kinds of other chemicals that the various brands of these products deliver to the user.” According to US Department of Health and Human Services.

“Robyn DeMasi, manager of the tobacco shop chain Smoker Friendly in Bozeman, said there has been an uptick in sales of the product since the ban went into effect. State health officials have backed down from their initial stance that e-cigarettes are illegal to use inside any public building under the Montana Clean Indoor Air Act that went into effect Oct. 1.” According to tobacco related news experts at tobacco-facts.net.

"I think if the e-cigarette starts becoming widely used in Michigan, the governments going to ban it in non-smoking areas." States Jeff Porkins, bartender at the Eightball Saloon in Ann Arbor.

Though the FDA discourages people from using electronic cigarettes, they aren't included in Michigan's smoking ban. Because these electronic cigarettes don’t produce any smoke, and emit low amounts or carcinogens, they are so far, safe under this bill.

This video contains real footage of Ann Arbor residents views, on Michigan's smoking ban,