MASS: Towns allowed to ban smoking in private clubs

boston.com ^ | March 23, 2006 | Raja Mishra and Jonathan Saltzman

[SheLion]

Dozens of cities and towns have already banned smoking in such clubs, which include veterans' posts and ethnic heritage clubs. The high court's decision keeps these bans in place.

[Triggerhippie]

See, what I don't understand is: when I smoke my cigarettes I don't get all wobbly in the head and I am still able to drive my vehicle without thinking I am floating on air.

I think he was referring (or reefering) to pot, not PCP.

Drugs implies to me "anything that relieves pain and alters the mind into believing there is no pain, therefore, the mind and body feel good."

If you don't thing nicotine is a powerful drug, try to quit. Ohh, You smoke the nicotine-free brand...

I am an ex-smoker of both kinds. Quitting cigarettes was, by far, the harder as the drug is, by far, more addictive.

[Triggerhippie]

thinK not thing.

[andy58-in-nh]

From what I understand, the Mass. SJC (Supreme Judicial Court) ruled that because private clubs "enjoy the benefits" of state licensing and regulation, they are therefore "quasi-public" institutions and subject to restrictions that serve public purposes.

So, by this logic, the state legislature could decide to ban smoking in your own yard because you currently "enjoy the benefits" of state regulations and licenses involved in the construction and maintenance of your property, and so does your neighbor. If the second-hand smoke from my cigar were to drift into my neighbor's back yard, the state would have a "rational purpose" in protecting him from the "threat" I posed.

This is what currently passes for "freedom" in Massachusetts. Ask me again why I live in New Hampshire. If our judges or legislature even thought about behaving this way, they would be chased down I-93 by a mob with torches and pitchforks and rope.

[Semper Paratus]

When everybody in Massachusetts stops smoking and buying cigarettes the Great and General Court of the Commonwealth (Legislature) will pass a non-smoking tax to make up for the lost revenue.

[SheLion]

I think he was referring (or reefering) to pot, not PCP.

I didn't see anything in relation to PCP.  I believe both of us was talking about pot.

Drugs implies to me "anything that relieves pain and alters the mind into believing there is no pain, therefore, the mind and body feel good."

If you don't thing nicotine is a powerful drug, try to quit. Ohh, You smoke the nicotine-free brand...

I chalk it up to the fact that I really enjoy smoking, as do many others.  One reason why it IS so hard to quit!  If I didn't enjoy it, I for one minute, would not put tobacco smoke into my body.  But I truly enjoy it, and I am in great health, so why not?  I could be doing a whole lot worse, and that's a fact.  But I really love to smoke.  It's legal after all.

I am an ex-smoker of both kinds. Quitting cigarettes was, by far, the harder as the drug is, by far, more addictive.

Not addictive in that sense.  I think you just really enjoyed smoking.  Therefore, pure hell to give it up.

[SheLion]

PS:  I would rather pass a smoker on the highway any day then a drinker or a pot smoker.

[SheLion]

This is what currently passes for "freedom" in Massachusetts. Ask me again why I live in New Hampshire. If our judges or legislature even thought about behaving this way, they would be chased down I-93 by a mob with torches and pitchforks and rope.

Oooooh!  I hate to break this to you, but the highly paid professional anti smokers already have their eye on NH! :(

    

Smoking Ban Advancing In New Hampshire

[SheLion]

When everybody in Massachusetts stops smoking and buying cigarettes the Great and General Court of the Commonwealth (Legislature) will pass a non-smoking tax to make up for the lost revenue.

Do you have any idea how much money that is?????

[Triggerhippie]

Pot smokers tend to drive reeeeeeeeeeeealy slow. They are only as dangerous as "old folks" on the road. I've heard that someone tried classifying marijuana as a hallucinogen but that is BS. The only thing I ever hallucinated was that getting the "munchies" was lethal.

I preferred MJ, but Marlboros were MUCH harder as nicotine (like caffeine) is physically addicting. Bad headaches and bad moods that lasted for three weeks.

[Triggerhippie]

PS: I would rather pass a smoker on the highway any day then a drinker or a pot smoker.

It would be easier to pass the pot smoker... he's the one doing 27 MPH on the highway! :)

[SoFloFreeper]

You vill march in lock step vith der Taxachoozetts Court!
Ve vill rule in your homes und klubs!

[SheLion]

I preferred MJ, but Marlboros were MUCH harder as nicotine (like caffeine) is physically addicting. Bad headaches and bad moods that lasted for three weeks.

That's what happens to me every time I try to switch from caffeine to decaf.  Horrible migraines.  I can't stand them!

[SheLion]

It would be easier to pass the pot smoker... he's the one doing 27 MPH on the highway! :)

[SheLion]

You vill march in lock step vith der Taxachoozetts Court!
Ve vill rule in your homes und klubs!

Yep!  That's exactly what Maine City Councils look like.  ugh!

[andy58-in-nh]

I know: the bill passed the House (not by a huge margin) but I very much doubt it will pass through the state Senate. In any event, the ban is only on restaurants and bars. As I said, they wouldn't even dare try this in private clubs.

[SheLion]

I know: the bill passed the House (not by a huge margin) but I very much doubt it will pass through the state Senate. In any event, the ban is only on restaurants and bars. As I said, they wouldn't even dare try this in private clubs.

I sure hope you are right.  Once they get their teeth into a state, they won't let go until they force a ban on everyone.  If they have no qualms about forcing a smoking ban in Rest Homes, then you know they have no conscience.

I know: the bill passed the House (not by a huge margin) but I very much doubt it will pass through the state Senate. In any event, the ban is only on restaurants and bars. As I said, they wouldn't even dare try this in private clubs.

I sure hope you are right.  Once they get their teeth into a state, they won't let go until they force a ban on everyone.  If they have no qualms about forcing a smoking ban in Rest Homes, then you know they have no conscience.

[wildbill]

I don't smoke and never have. That being said, I support the right of those who choose to smoke SINCE NO LAW IN THE LAND HAS BANNED SMOKING OUTRIGHT,

If tobacco was put on a forbidden list like cocaine, then the anti-smoking crowd would have some semblance of legality.

Suppose the party in the suit was a private club for smoking cigars? (there are such things) Should the members have to step outside their door into the public area where smoking is legal in order to smoke their cigars?

Ridiculous. The Nannie State at work.

[SheLion]

Suppose the party in the suit was a private club for smoking cigars? (there are such things) Should the members have to step outside their door into the public area where smoking is legal in order to smoke their cigars?

Ridiculous. The Nannie State at work.

It really IS at work!  Hard!

There are cigar bars.  One in Chicago if I am not mistaken, where it's legal to smoke.  The big wigs all love their cigars don't you know, so they want to protect their turf, and to hell with the little guys like you and me.

[wildbill]

You can't blame it all on brain-dead or do-gooder laymen on City Councils.

The courts ought to be stopping this nonsense by applying the Constitution to their opinions instead of their opinions to the Constitution.

[SheLion]

The courts ought to be stopping this nonsense by applying the Constitution to their opinions instead of their opinions to the Constitution.

Takes money to go to court, and we just don't have it.  And anytime we try to stand up for the private business owners, we get accused of working for Big T.  Which can't be further from the truth.  Big Tobacco sold us out!  We hate them just as much as we hate the professional anti's that are taking over our states.