Michigan Smoking Ban passes State Senate
The Michigan Senate today approved a bill that would make the state the 38th to ban smoking in public places. The ban, which would take effect in May 2010, would apply to all bars and restaurants, although it left exemptions for some casinos and cigar bars.
The present version of the bill simply needs to be passed by the state House and signed by Governor Jennifer Granholm, both of whom support such a ban. The House actually passed a similar ban earlier in the year, making their approval more of a formality than anything.
Banning smoking in public places is a cause that always provokes mixed reactions, and Michigan is no exception. As usual, many business owners are speaking out against the ban, saying it denies them the right to decide on their own what the rules for their establishments should be.
Some proponents are somewhat against the bill as well, however, saying it should be a total ban, but are happy to have at least this partial ban in place.
Of Michigan’s nearby neighbors, only Indiana does not have some form of smoking ban in place.
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