Arizona Prop 201 passes!

Arizona Proposition 201 has been passed by Arizona voters.
What does this mean? It means that there will be no more smoking in Arizona bars, restaurants or any other public areas.

As a non-smoker myself, I supported Prop 201 and I find its’ success to be tremendously good news. Cigarette smoke pollution is the main reason that I do not go out to some bars or clubs in the area. Inhalation of second hand smoke is extremely unhealthy. Some studies have even found that second hand smoke causes more damage than first hand smoke! But the damage doesn’t stop once you leave the bar. Returning home after a night on the town will oft result in clothes and hair drenched with a strong stench of cigarette smoke. Quite a repulsive stench.

Here are the official results, scraped from the Maricopa County Recorders’ office.
The “fake” smoking ban (prop 206) did not pass.

PROPOSITION 201
100% (1142 of 1142) precincts reporting
Vote for 1 EV VOTES TOTAL VOTES
NP – YES 19084 337786
NP – NO 15028 287194

PROPOSITION 206
100% (1142 of 1142) precincts reporting
Vote for 1 EV VOTES TOTAL VOTES
NP – YES 14319 265918
NP – NO 19526 354612

About Wes Novack

Wes is a Technologist working in the software industry, with extensive experience building and managing highly available applications, services, and systems in the public cloud. He has extensive experience with online publishing and building internet communities. Wes enjoys hanging with his family, getting outdoors, skateboarding, hiking, pickelball, tennis, the vegan lifestyle, and a good cup of tea. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) @WesleyTech.

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5 Comments on “Arizona Prop 201 passes!”

  1. Philadelphia passed a similar ordinance within city limits. Additionally, governor Rendell has a state wide ban in the works for next year. I can finally eat and get drunk without hacking up a lung.

    We have a few smokers at our school. Interestingly, there is a university policy of no smoking on the property (although everyone does it). I am sure I will piss everyone off when I bring to everyone’s attention the policy after we move to our new building. I’m no fan of having to push passed smokers just to get to class. I am hoping soon that they will realize that they have no rights and need to be oppressed/sit in the backs of busses etc. Our insurance rates and medicare taxes are higher because of them, and they feel they are entitled to piss us off with second hand smoke.

    AZ needs to raise cigarette taxes to all time highs to compensate for this. I expect you guys to sign a petition taking them to crack prices. $120/ carton would be nice.

  2. 82 cents per pack in additional taxing goes into effect today! The new statewide law also goes into effect today. I’m psyched!

    Hopefully the next time that I visit you blokes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania will have the statewide ban in effect as well. 🙂

  3. I think that you all are very wrong. And if you dont want to go to a bar, that does have smoking.. THEN FIND ANOTHER BAR!!! How dare any of you talk about “studies” because they have been favoring both sides! I understand your concern about second hand smoke, but so many resteraunts dont alow smoking anyways…GO TO ONE THAT DOES NOT ALLOW SMOKING. I find it really funny that if everyone did stop smoking, the state of Arizona that has come to count on Millions in taxes paid by smokers will sorely miss that money, and where will it come from then.. Education, Law Enforcement? Shame on all of you.

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