45% of Americans Support Making Cigarettes Illegal [View All]

Press release from the Drug Policy Alliance (www.drugpolicy.org):

A startling Zogby Poll has found that 45% of Americans support making cigarettes illegal in the next five to ten years!!

This Thursday there will be a teleconference with leading drug policy, public health and law enforcement advocates who will discuss the significance of the poll and explain why outlawing cigarettes is not the way to deal with the harms of smoking.

For Immediate Release: For More Info: Tony Newman

October 23, 2006 (646) 335-5384

New Drug Policy Alliance/Zogby Poll Finds 45 Percent Support Making Cigarettes Illegal

Startling Numbers to be Discussed via Teleconference on Thursday, October 26 at 11:30 a.m. EST

A new Zogby Poll commissioned by the Drug Policy Alliance asked a sampling of 1,200 Americans if they would support federal legislation making cigarettes illegal in five to ten years.

The startling results will be released and discussed by Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, and others on a teleconference on Thursday, October 26, 2006 at 11:30 a.m. EST.

What: Teleconference releasing new Zogby Poll by the Drug Policy Alliance. The question asks Americans if they would support a federal law making cigarettes illegal within five to ten years.

When: Thursday, October 26, 2006 at 11:30 a.m. (EST)

Who: Ethan Nadelmann, executive director, Drug Policy Alliance, Norm Stamper, former Police Chief of Seattle and member, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), Allan Rosenfield, dean of the Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University

“The number of Americans who support criminalizing cigarette smokers is shocking,” said Nadelmann. “The question is not if cigarette smoking is dangerous and leads to premature death – as, surely, it is and does. The question is how to best address cigarette smoking as a public health problem. Based on history and current policies, we know that prohibition often leads to devastating consequences.”

The Drug Policy Alliance is the nation’s leading organization working to advance drug policies grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights.

The Zogby Poll, a Drug Policy Alliance press release and background material will be available at http://www.drugpolicy.org following the teleconference.