As the public becomes increasingly informed about the health risks involved with smoking cigarettes, as well as secondhand smoke, many individual states are taking steps to limit the number of public places where smokers can light up. The state of Maryland is one of the most proactive among them.
No-smoking legislation
In 2007, Maryland became the second state to enact a statewide smoking ban when Governor Martin O'Malley passed the Clean Air Act, a bill banning smoking in all indoor public areas, including private establishments like bars, nightclubs and restaurants. "The governor feels that the public health data is conclusive, and this legislation will significantly improve the health of Marylanders," O'Malley spokesman Rick Abbruzzese told media at the time.
Exceptions to the law
Bars, restaurants and nightclubs--traditionally a haven for smokers--were allowed to apply for a "hardship exemption," which meant they could continue to allow smoking if they could prove that their businesses were hurt by the ban. Even those whose claims were accepted, though, are required to become smoke-free in 2011.
Additionally, cigar shops and other business that could show that at least 75 percent of their sales came from tobacco products were exempt from the ban.
Smoke-free workplaces
In 1995 Maryland passed a bill significantly cutting down on smoking in the workplace. It banned indoor smoking in office settings and required that employers post signs at entrances stating precisely that. The bill did allow for designated outdoor smoking areas as long as they were properly ventilated.
Previous attempts to ban smoking
Maryland was set to become the nation's most stringent state in terms of smoking regulations in 1994, but those regulations were put on hold when a judge said business owners had provided adequate evidence that they would hurt their business.
Creative maneuvering
Some business owners have found creative ways around the state's smoking regulations, including Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder, one of most successful owners in the National Football League. Snyder responded to the legislation by opening a tobacco shop inside his stadium, thus providing himself a loophole and giving fans somewhere to light up while attending games.
