Tobacco Documents Online

I J October 7, 1980 Mr. Ben Barker, Chairman Governor's Citizens Committee on - Smoking and Health Office of Health & Education Michigan Dept. of Public Health 3500 N. Logan Box 30035 Lansing, Mich. Dear Mr. Barker: •MOR40C fYMOIt G.RD/ovaCVLAw .uwacR• 61,1OO110C.OlT I learned only yesterday about the public hearing scheduled for 10-8-80 at the State Health Department, this'through one of my longtime colleagues at the Health Department. It is well known that I have long been concerned about the whole problem of tobacco and health and have obviously developed some realistic thoughts about how it could be improved. The health effect of tobacco is a disaster of he greatest proportion if we look at all the disease it causes and the cost to the persons and to the people of our State and the Nation. Tobacco is a deadly poison. Its effect has not yet been fully assessed. In 1973, while serving as the physician on the Michigan Air Pollution Control Commission, I did propose and obtain passage of a ban on smoking during commission sessions. Our Michigan law on smoking in public places and hospitals came soon afterward. As recently as this July, I did assist with the development of a smoking policy restriction at the Grand Rapids Commission sessions. It was approved. It is clear that we need additional measures to further encircle this as yet fairly unrestricted and distorted problem. I understand that you will be assembling information to be considered for a November deadline. If acceptable, I would like to present a statement with some policy and action recommendations by then. Yours sincerely, RAR/gdy CC: Governor's Office t...e~....~cL v~. • Richard A. Rasmussen, M.D. -274- RICNARO A. RAfM01113EN. M. 0. ROS[RT W. NARRt6ON. M. 0. YOUN S. KIM. M. 0. JAMEf W. D[LAVAN. M. 0. LARRY J. ROBlON. M. 0. DRS. RASMUSSEN. HARRISON. KIM. OELAVAN & ROBSON. PC •LODGETT FROFES',IIONAL OFFICL HUILDING - SV IT! 200 GRAND RAMD4. MICHIGAN 49504 TEL[FwOMt (616) 40Y.727•