Tobacco.org

• State's adult smoking rates hit a new low  

The state Department of Health said Wednesday that 16.5 percent of adult residents smoked in 2007, below the national rate of 19.8 percent and sixth lowest among all states. In 2006, the state ranked fifth-lowest in the nation with a 17 percent smoking rate.

But smoking rates among the poorest and least educated residents haven't budged significantly in years. Almost a third of adults with less than $25,000 in household incomes are smokers, for instance.

Equally worrisome is the fact that 20 percent of 12th graders in Washington smoke. Public-health officials know that if they can keep a person off tobacco before age 18, chances are slim that the person will ever light up.

The state's overall smoking rate has fallen by 26 percent since 1999. In 2000, Washington beefed up its tobacco-prevention efforts

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Bremerton Legion’s Challenge to Smoking Ban Snuffed Out  

A sharply divided state Supreme Court said Thursday that Washington’s smoking ban applies to private clubs that have employees.

In a 5-4 decision, the majority said the law created by Initiative 901 “clearly prohibits” smoking in workplaces — including private clubs.

American Legion Post 149 in Bremerton sued the state and Kitsap County after it was ordered to ban smoking or face prosecution.

The court’s dissent argues that voters never intended to require private clubs to be part of the smoking ban, and that the initiative didn’t change the underlying law to include those clubs.

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Lung Association threatens to cut chapter ties 

The American Lung Association has threatened to cut ties with its own Northwest chapter, giving it one month to rectify violations of the nonprofit's policies.

The American Lung Association of the Northwest has recently changed its mission statement, declined to run an anti-smoking program for teenagers and refused to commit to a campaign promoting influenza vaccinations - all in violation of its agreement with the national organization, said Carrie Martin, spokeswoman for the national group. . . .

But the Northwest affiliate changed its mission in August: Instead of "preventing lung disease and promoting lung health," it has focused on helping those who have lung disease and helping prevent future lung disease.

Because the national organization has a policy of not caring for patients directly, the chapter's new mission statement is inconsistent with the national organization, Martin said.

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• Anti-smoking campaign targets low-income residents 

After helping young people and pregnant women to quit smoking, the state is now targeting its toughest group yet -- low-income residents.

Smoking rates in North Central Washington now vary widely, partly because the state's anti-smoking campaign has worked in areas with higher incomes and education levels, state officials say.

Adult smoking rates released by the state on Wednesday show the disparity.

In Chelan County, only about one in seven adults -- or 14.4 percent -- smoke. In Okanogan County, nearly one in four adults -- or 24.4 percent -- smoke. It's the third highest rate in the state, behind only Asotin and Stevens counties.

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Adult Smoking Drops Slightly, Rate Hits New Low  

A new state survey shows the adult smoking rate in Washington is continuing to go down, yet the decline is slowing. When the Department of Health began its comprehensive Tobacco Prevention and Control Program in 2000, the adult smoking rate was 22.4 percent. The most recent survey shows the smoking rate has decreased slightly from 17 percent in 2006 to a new low of 16.5 percent in 2007. At the same time, rates remain higher among people with low income and low education.

Washington's 25 percent drop in adult smoking since 2000 translates to 240,000 fewer people smoking and an estimated savings of $2.1 billion in future healthcare costs. The state remains well below the national smoking rate of 19.8 percent.

"Our state's commitment to tobacco prevention is making a big difference. People are quitting smoking and Washington is healthier because of it," said Governor Chris Gregoire. "The numbers also show we have some big challenges. We must find ways to reach those who are not getting the message that help is available."

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Survey finds adult smoking rates are down 

Fewer adults are smoking in Washington, but state health officials said Wednesday the numbers among low-income adults and those with less education are not encouraging.

A recent survey found Washington’s adult smoking rate has dropped about 25 percent since 2000, which means about 240,000 fewer people smoked in 2007 than in 2000. About 16.5 percent of Washington adults smoked in 2007. That’s below the national average of nearly 20 percent.

The Washington survey was part of a national health study conducted by the federal Centers for Disease Control . . .

The CDC says Washington has the sixth-lowest smoking rate in the nation. The five states with lower smoking rates are Utah, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Minnesota. Oregon and Hawaii follow Washington in the rankings.

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Internet Tobacco Sales to Minors Prohibited 

Attorney General Christine Gregoire said today Cyco.net, Inc., a New Mexico firm, has agreed to stop selling tobacco products in Washington.

Cyco.net and its president, Richard Urrea, were sued under the Consumer Protection Act for selling cigarettes to minors over the Internet.

The lawsuit was filed after an undercover investigation where a minor was able to buy cigarettes on a website provided by Cyco.net.

The lawsuit alleged that the defendants violated the Consumer Protection Act not only by selling tobacco to minors, but also by implying that purchases made on their website were tax-free.

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Judge blocks cigarette tax on reservation  

Business will remain as usual at Yakama tribal smoke shops for at least the next few months as a federal judge temporarily blocked the state from imposing its cigarette taxes on those shops.

After compliance issues led the state to scrap a cigarette tax agreement with the tribe in July, state officials sought to impose state cigarette taxes on tribal smoke shops on the 1.2 million-acre reservation.

They also told state cigarette wholesalers -- who largely supply tribal smoke shops -- not to accept the tribe's cigarette stamps, saying they were invalid.

The move has thwarted shipments to tribal smoke shops, said attorneys representing the tribe.

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• Don't light up in private clubs 

A sharply divided state Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Washington's smoking ban applies to private clubs that have employees.

In a 5-4 decision, the majority said the law created by Initiative 901 clearly prohibits smoking in workplaces -- including private clubs.

American Legion Post 149 in Bremerton sued the state and Kitsap County after it was ordered in 2006 to ban smoking or face prosecution.

The court's dissent argues that voters never intended to require private clubs to be part of the smoking ban, and the initiative didn't change the underlying law to include those clubs.

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Yakama Nation is suing state 

The Yakama Nation and several cigarette retailers and distributors on the reservation have sued the state of Washington over cigarette taxes, the latest move in a long-running dispute over treaty rights.

The lawsuit, which seeks to block the state from taking what the tribal plaintiffs see as illegal enforcement action, was unsealed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Yakima.

Officials representing the Yakama Nation and attorneys for the state Department of Revenue and the Liquor Control Board are expected to hold a telephone conference with a federal judge this morning.

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Wash. court: Smoking ban applies to private clubs  

A sharply divided state Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Washington's smoking ban applies to private clubs that have employees.

In a 5-4 decision, the majority said the law created by Initiative 901 clearly prohibits smoking in workplaces -- including private clubs.

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Court ruling gives Frankie's a breather  

A divided state Supreme Court upheld Washington's voter-approved ban on smoking in public areas and places of employment, saying Thursday that the ban extends to private clubs such as American Legion Post 149 in Bremerton. ...

But the decision is not expected to affect the private smoking room that Frankie's Sports Bar and Grill, owned by Frank Schnarrs, has set up one floor above its Olympia venue using volunteers and no paid workers, said Shawn Newman, an Olympia lawyer.

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• Wash. court: Smoking ban applies to private clubs 

A sharply divided state Supreme Court says Washington's smoking ban applies to private clubs that have employees.

In a 5-4 decision, the majority says the law created by Initiative 901 "clearly prohibits" smoking in workplaces - including private clubs.

American Legion Post 149 in Bremerton sued the state and Kitsap County after it was ordered to ban smoking or face prosecution.

The court's dissent argues that voters never intended to require private clubs to be part of the smoking ban

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Free & Clear(R) Increases Number of Washington State Tobacco Users Helped 

Free & Clear, Inc., the national leader in evidence-based tobacco cessation programs delivered via the phone and internet, enrolled four percent of Washington smokers in their Quit For Life Program® during the state’s fiscal year July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2008, up from 2 percent in fiscal year 2007. In addition to the Washington State Tobacco Quit Line, Free & Clear provides tobacco cessation services to 33 health plans and employers based in Washington State including Boeing, Microsoft, Weyerhaeuser, PACCAR, Inc., REI, Regence Association of Washington Cities, City of Seattle, WaMu and Group Health Cooperative. Overall, Free & Clear has provided services to 23,534 tobacco users in the state during fiscal year 2008, up from 20,405 in fiscal year 2007.

The majority of these tobacco users (12,137) were covered by their employer’s benefits program, and an additional 11,397 were helped through the Washington State Tobacco Quit Line. Washington State exemplifies a well supported public-private partnership model where every tobacco user in the state can get free coaching and medication support for quitting tobacco just by calling 1-800-QUITNOW (1-800-784-8669).

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• SMOKE SHOP OWNERS PLEAD GUILTY TO CONSPIRING TO TRAFFIC IN CONTRABAND CIGARETTES AND STRUCTURING $2.1 MILLION OF CASH TRANSACTIONS  

HENRY GOTTFRIEDSON, 61, and ALISON GOTTFRIEDSON, 56, owners of Frank's Landing Indian Discount Tobacco, pleaded guilty in U. S. District Court in Tacoma to Conspiring to Traffic in Contraband Cigarettes and Structuring Currency Transactions, in connection with a scheme to sell contraband cigarettes to the public at large without paying the applicable State of Washington taxes. The GOTTFRIEDSONs admitted to unlawfully avoiding more than $9.2 million in Washington State taxes and agreed to forfeit more than $1.5 million in cash.

HENRY and ALISON GOTTFRIEDSON owned and operated the smoke shop, which did business in Olympia, Washington, as part of the Frank's Landing Indian Community. Both defendants entered pleas earlier today before U.S. District Court Judge Benjamin H. Settle.

As part of the plea agreements, the GOTTFRIEDSONs admitted to conspiring from January 2001 until October 2007, to purchase, receive, and sell contraband cigarettes. Contraband cigarettes are a quantity of cigarettes which bear no Washington tax stamp . . .

As part of the plea agreements, the GOTTFRIEDSONs agreed to forfeit more than $1.5 million in cash, 53,870 cartons of contraband cigarettes, and a 2007 Cadillac Escalade. They also agreed to pay restitution to the State of Washington in the amount of $9,201,982.

It is a federal crime to transport, possess, or sell contraband cigarettes, whether on federal land, including tribal reservations, or elsewhere.

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