New Mexico lawmakers worked to address a “smoking loophole” in the House Cannabis bill on Day One of the special legislative session after public health groups sounded the alarm.“Many of the same toxins found in tobacco smoke are found in secondhand marijuana smoke,” said Brian Hummell with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.Hummell said House Bill 2, the Cannabis Regulation Act, would roll back the Dee Johnson Clean Indoor Air Act, which eliminates smoking in public places. He said it could allow for someone to smoke marijuana in enclosed spaces, like in a coffee shop or hotel. The issue is with the language in the bill. “We believe that if you’re in an enclosed space anyone in that enclosed space including workers and patrons should be protected from the dangers of all types of secondhand smoke,” said Hummell.He said secondhand marijuana smoke can lead to things like lung irritation, asthma attacks and respiratory infections. So his group along with the American Heart Association, American Lung Association in New Mexico, Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, Campaign for Tobacco Free-Kids, and New Mexico Allied Council on Tobacco sent a letter to the governor and lawmakers, raising those concerns.“We did receive that letter and seeing that we have such broad public health initiatives with this bill we did not want to cause any additional problems,” said State Rep. Andrea Romero. “We’re in the midst of having an amendment prepared…
Original Author Link click here to read complete story..
New Mexico lawmakers worked to address a “smoking loophole” in the House Cannabis bill on Day One of the special legislative session after public health groups sounded the alarm.“Many of the same toxins found in tobacco smoke are found in secondhand marijuana smoke,” said Brian Hummell with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.Hummell said House Bill 2, the Cannabis Regulation Act, would roll back the Dee Johnson Clean Indoor Air Act, which eliminates smoking in public places. He said it could allow for someone to smoke marijuana in enclosed spaces, like in a coffee shop or hotel. The issue is with the language in the bill. “We believe that if you’re in an enclosed space anyone in that enclosed space including workers and patrons should be protected from the dangers of all types of secondhand smoke,” said Hummell.He said secondhand marijuana smoke can lead to things like lung irritation, asthma attacks and respiratory infections. So his group along with the American Heart Association, American Lung Association in New Mexico, Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, Campaign for Tobacco Free-Kids, and New Mexico Allied Council on Tobacco sent a letter to the governor and lawmakers, raising those concerns.“We did receive that letter and seeing that we have such broad public health initiatives with this bill we did not want to cause any additional problems,” said State Rep. Andrea Romero. “We’re in the midst of having an amendment prepared…
