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Newsbrief:
Bhutan
Banning
Tobacco
12/5/03
excerpted from the newsletter
of the International Antiprohibitionist League, http://www.antiprohibitionist.org
Last week, several publications
including The Christian Science Monitor ran a story on Bhutan, informing
that the little Asian Kingdom has decided to become the first smoke-free
nation in the history of humanity. According to the CSM in Bhutan,
"19 of 20 districts have already banned the leaf, often on religious grounds,
as Buddhists consider smoking to be a sin. Health officials are now
laying the groundwork for Thimphu to follow suit next year. If they
succeed, it will be illegal to sell tobacco products, and Bhutanese smokers
will be fined if caught in public." Bhutan's Secretary of the Ministry
of Health is reported as saying that "It's not just about banning tobacco;
we have to provide support services. If people want to give [it]
up, we will help them."
Bhutan is trying to open
up to democratic rules and, the CSM reports, some ask themselves if this
"should mean a more laissez-faire attitude to private vices like smoking"
while others ask "if alcohol would be a better target, given the dangers
of drunk driving on the nation's treacherous mountain roads." Apparently,
much of the smoking debate is being conducted in the national newspaper,
the Kuensel (http://www.kuensel.com.bt),
and its online forum.
-- END --
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Issue #314, 12/5/03
Congressman Seeks to Censor Public Service Transit Ads with Drug Reform Messages -- Istook Provoked By Pro-Marijuana Ads on DC Metro |
Thailand Declares Itself "Drug Free" -- Sort Of -- As Human Rights Watchdogs Condemn Anti-Drug Campaign |
Italy Marches Bravely into 20th Century: Government Proposal Would Recriminalize Drug Possession, Including Marijuana |
Drug Decrim Bill Introduced in Argentina -- Would Also Bar Forced Treatment |
Newsbrief: Bhutan Banning Tobacco |
Newsbrief: Chicago Catholic High School to Drug Test All Students |
Newsbrief: DEA Tries RAVE Act Intimidation Again, But Activists Successfully Fight Back |
Newsbrief: Supreme Court Rules Cops Need Wait Only 20 Seconds Before Kicking Down Door |
Newsbrief: Federal Appeals Court Rules Traffic Stop Drug Dog Search Illegal |
Newsbrief: Needle Access Bill Killed in New Jersey |
Newsbrief: Lieberman Clueless On California Medical Marijuana Raids |
Newsbrief: This Week's Corrupt Cop (or Teach the Children Well) |
Newsbrief: Dr. Donald Abrams Receives FDA Approval for First Human Vaporizer Research |
Web Scan: Web Chat with Ira and Ethan, Reason on Ecstasy Research, C-Span Drug Debate, Stratford High Footage |
DRCNet Temporarily Suspending Our Web-Based Write-to-Congress Service Due to Funding Shortfalls -- Your Help Can Bring It Back -- Keep Contacting Congress in the Meantime |
Perry Fund Accepting Applications for 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 School Years, Providing Scholarships for Students Losing Aid Because of Drug Convictions |
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