Tobacco.org

• Tobacco use: Health vs livelihood? 

Is protecting the health of the Navajo people endangering their livelihood? Robert Winter, CEO of the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise, says legislation imposing a ban on commercial tobacco use has that potential.

But Herman Shorty of Navajo Office of Environmental Health, a proponent of the tobacco ban, said Wednesday that Navajo laws and regulations are such "that even reasonable persons have to be protected from themselves because of vices, or safety issues that they may not be aware of the need for."

Representatives from both sides of the issue have presented Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. with documentation supporting their stances. The Navajo Nation Council approved the tobacco ban July 25, and Shirley's decision on whether to sign or veto the legislation is expected today . . .

During Council debate of the legislation, Bates proposed an amendment to exclude gaming facilities from the tobacco bill, however, the amendment failed and the bill passed 42-27.

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