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Thank You for Making Smoking History in Massachusetts

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Thank you for improving the health of our work environments. Clean air in the workplace is something our children should be guaranteed for life!
-Brian, Weston July 6, 2004

No doubt about it - the best most exciting thing for me is that I can now take my 6 month old baby boy anywhere I want without worrying about second hand smoke clogging his and my lungs!
Rick, Maynard July 6, 2004

It’s great that there is no more smoking in restaurants. I always hated taking my kids out to a restaurant with smoke and now don’t have to worry.
-Debbie, Lowell July 6, 2004

My best friend and I have been waiting months for this law to go into affect. We had July 5 all planned out for weeks to go out and celebrate smoke-free restaurants and bars. No more burning eyes and stinking clothes and hair. I detest cigarette smoke and yet I have breathed in so much second-hand smoke, that I fear for my health. I have a seven-month pregnant friend who works in a restaurant with a lounge area and she tells us of people smoking and blowing it in her face. This law will benefit the health of everyone in the state because smokers themselves will even smoke less. It's a win-win for everyone. I am so appreciative to every organization and individual and government official who worked so hard to pass this law and make Massachusetts a leader in this country in protecting the health of its citizens. Thank you for improving the quality of my life.
-Christine, Quincy July 6, 2004

Tonight I am going to a restaurant/bar that allowed smoking up until [July 5th]. I would not have gone a week ago. I look forward to going out more often. My friends are coming up from D.C. this weekend. They're always talking about how great D.C. is but now I have something to brag about as well!
-Paul, West Roxbury July 6, 2004

Oh joy, oh rapture! Actually being able to sing at clubs & bars now makes my life so much better. As a musician who is allergic to tobacco smoke, I've been unable to perform at many of the venues in the state- it's a whole new world!
Also, many of my friends are wait staff and bartenders, so I am relieved that their lungs will get some much-needed relief.
-Arjuna, Northampton July 6, 2004

So glad that smoking is history in Massachusetts. I have many airborne allergies that cause me to have chronic sinusitis. The least whiff of smoke, and my nose is closed for business. Much more smoke, and my allergy-induced asthma is activated. What a way to mess up your social life! But now I can go to any establishment in Massachusetts safely.
-Maureen, Winchester July 6, 2004

I love taking my family to restaurants without worrying about them breathing second hand smoke!
-Raina, Mansfield July 6, 2004

I was a restaurant server for years. I have friends that still are and those that are bartenders. I have seen their health negatively impacted for years - esp. as they age. And the solution does not lie in "find another job" esp. in this economy, esp. in that industry.
People will always be able to find a place to smoke - but at least now people have a place, a safe place, to work. Thank you for making such an important change.
-C., Rockport July 6, 2004

I am so excited about this law, let me tell you why. I have a little 6-year-old sister who has asthma, and I cannot tell you the number of times we have been out somewhere and an insensitive smoker will light up near her. You don't know how truly horrible smoking is until you see a small child struggling to breathe, turning blue, scared for her life. Smoking is everyone’s decision, you have the right to do it, I have the right not to. Don't make my decision for me by smoking in public!
-Kerri, Brookfield July 6, 2004

We all know the dangers of secondhand smoke. To expose innocent people in the past was so very wrong! I quit many years ago, as did my husband. This is one reason my son is a healthy nonsmoking adult today!
-Sandra, Whitinsville July 6, 2004

My sincere "Thanks" to all of the lawmakers and Mr. Romney for passing this very important law. Hopefully thousands of others will be able to breathe freely now without worrying about second hand smoke in restaurants and bars. I also hope and pray this law will stay in effect for many many years to come. I know, just from my own experience, this is a gigantic step for non-smokers. And hopefully it will stop others from this dreadful and bad habit.
-Joanie, Methuen July 6, 2004

I can't thank you enough for passing the smoke-free workplace bill. I lived in Alaska for 20 years and Anchorage has been smoke-free for quite some time. I was so disappointed when I moved back here 4-1/2 years ago, to walk into smoke-filled restaurants.
Thanks to you, my lungs and my throat and my eyes all feel much better.
I think too that this law will be the incentive many people need to quit smoking. Please let people know that QuitWorks.org is available for free to Massachusetts residents and they provide telephone counseling in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
-Mary Lou, Brockton July 6, 2004

I can't tell you how thrilling this is. Through my personal history of spending a lot of time during high school in the 70s at Boston Garden and other large rock concert venues to the 80s in new wave and punk rock clubs like Spit and the Channel and the Rat, to a current nightclub that my boyfriend and I like to go to so we can see our old friends and enjoy the buffet, I've had to endure smoke-filled air. Although I live in the town which set the precedent, there has been no escape from the carcinogenic, smelly fumes. I just hope the sidewalks will be tolerable now, but am framing the articles from the paper heralding the July 5 inception date of the statewide smoking ban.
-Susie, Brookline July 6, 2004

For the last year, I've thoroughly enjoyed the smoke-free environments of Boston and Cambridge. I'm very pleased that the rest of Massachusetts will be smoke-free - pleased for workers, patrons, and children who will no longer associate a drink with a smoke. Please don't ever repeal smoke-free workplaces.
-Brad, Cambridge July 6, 2004

My dear Senators and Congressman: thank you so much for joining your constituents in the fight to win legislation for a "smoke free" workplace. Without your support and caring for the people, and the environment of Massachusetts this very important piece of legislation would not have been passed….Thank you for all your hard work getting this bill passed.
-Stephen, Holbrook July 6, 2004

Thank you for making Massachusetts a healthier place to work in, to be in a public place, to not have to ask people to please not smoke near me and if they insist on smoking, to have to move on.
-Lucy, Boston July 6, 2004

I grew up surrounded by cigarette smoke -- in the car, the house, restaurants, everywhere. Near the end of college, at my first regular job, I was, once again, surrounded by cigarette smoke. I started smoking. First I just smoked at work, but soon I was hooked. Two years later, I left the job behind, but I didn’t leave my pack-a-day addiction behind. That took several more years. Thanks to the new smoke-free workplaces law, workers in Massachusetts won't have to go through what I went through. I was lucky to quit my habit at a relatively young age -- many aren't so lucky. Now, it won't just be a matter of luck. It will be a matter of common sense and fairness. We can all breathe a little easier now.
-Jeff, Holyoke July 6, 2004

It is such a liberating feeling to know that I can go to a restaurant or bar, take a deep breath, and enjoy myself. If my table isn’t ready, I can visit the bar while I wait. At the end of the evening, my eyes don’t sting, my hair and clothes don’t smell like smoke, and my allergies don’t flare up; not to mention the other health related risks that accompany second hand smoke.
Although I watch my mother struggle with Emphysema every day, I don’t deny individuals the right to make their own decisions regarding smoking. However, it is a blessing that an individual’s decision whether or not to smoke no longer comes at the expense of others.
-Andy & Liz, Waltham July 6, 2004

What a great thing to be able to go into a restaurant and be able to taste the food, rather than smell the smoke coming across to the non-smoking section. Somehow, smoke just never "got it" that it was restricted to one area... Thanks for helping to make Massachusetts a healthier place to live, work and eat!
-Joyce, Amherst July 6, 2004

Ten years ago, I took the very difficult step of quitting smoking in order to improve my health. But during the years since that time I continued to be exposed to the harms of tobacco each time I frequented an establishment where smoking was permitted. I am so relieved and so proud of Massachusetts for passing the smoke-free workplace law and protecting ALL of us from exposure to tobacco. Thanks to the many people who made this historic step for the health of the residents of Massachusetts possible.
-Rachel, Jamaica Plain July 6, 2004

Thank you for listening to the majority of MA residents who desire a healthier workplace.
-Nancy, Hudson July 6, 2004

As a Senior Citizen I wish to thank the state legislators and all the hard working pro-health folks who have made it possible for me to go to my favorite restaurant without having to go to the dry cleaners each week to get the smoke smell out of my clothing.
-Bill, Dorchester July 6, 2004

I am really, really excited about smokefree workplaces in Massachusetts both as a citizen of the Commonwealth and an anti-tobacco advocate. It's wonderful to see the culmination of the work of so many for so long come to fruition.
Personally, at the same time that I was an anti-tobacco advocate, my aunt Muriel was dying of emphysema due to her smoking. She was mentally ill and what many don't know is that nicotine actually helps people who are mentally ill because the chemicals in nicotine have a very relaxing effect on this particular population. Although my aunt didn't stop smoking and died from her disease, she motivated me to educate others about smoking and second hand smoke.
This new law would make it more difficult for folks, like my aunt to smoke. By making it difficult, I feel it is a way of raising awareness and educating the public. Sometimes as human beings, we don't always make the healthiest choices, the law is there to protect us.
This statewide smoking ban protects the overall welfare of its citizens as well as, protecting those who make negative choices about their habits and behaviors that effect the welfare of others.
It is also very exciting to see my State Rep. Rachel Kaprielian's hard work and patience come to fruition. I remember the days when Rachel was one of the few that really cared about this issue.
Lastly, on a lighter note...it was a pleasure to see Rep. Peter Koutoujian be able to put a feather in his cap with this law, too, and be right there when the Governor signed the bill into law. I have worked with Peter for several years on a variety of health issues--starting at the American Cancer Society. It was great to see that my years of tormenting Peter with facts and figures on tobacco related issues, served him well.
Please know that the work everyone did on this bill, added more meaning and touched my life both on a professional and personal level.
Thank you all!
-Suzanne, Cambridge July 6, 2004

I quit smoking 4 years ago and since that time I have not been able to go into certain establishments because of the smoky conditions. My daughter is a bartender and she is thrilled to be able to go to work and not have to be subjected to second-hand smoke for the duration of her shift. You have truly saved many lives and enhanced the quality of life for everyone in Massachusetts. Those who wish to smoke may do so out in the clean fresh air, which will be a little healthier for them, too!
-Patricia, New Bedford July 6, 2004

Its good to know that I can go into any restaurant in Mass. and know that I don't have to breath someone else cigarette smoke.
-Bill, Dracut July 6, 2004

I am very happy that public places will be smoke-free now. In the past, I avoided restaurants that had a lot of smokers. Now I feel I can go anywhere and enjoy the experience without worrying about what I am inhaling.
-Gail, Westborough July 6, 2004

My gratitude goes out to all who struggled to pass this common sense law, from advocates to legislators. This will have a very positive public health impact on the commonwealth's citizens, and I'm pleased to have done a small part by expressing my support in the last months.
-Sean, Amherst July 6, 2004

I cant even express in words how wonderful it is to know how many lives will be saved from second hand smoke, over 50,000 people a year die from it, I don’t think the business owners of all these places realize how much of a positive difference they're making and at the same time saving lives! I have only positive things to say, starting with thanks and much appreciation to lawmakers, fellow advocates and others for the passage of the law! The smoke-free workplace law will positively impact my family and I while not having to breathe and smell with gross, negative smell of all the dangerous chemicals in ciggs. I cant even express in words how much this new law means to me, and I believe this is only the beginning of making smoking history, one step at a time and we will succeed!!! CONGRATS Massachusetts we did it, and we should keep fighting this!!!!
-Christine, Winchester July 6, 2004

I am so glad that my children will not have to be subjected to second hand smoke. Their future work place will have healthy air and not be full of carcinogens and harmful substances. There really is no price you can put on good health. Hooray smoking will not be tolerated in work places!!
-Linda, Kingston July 6, 2004

As an individual with Asthma and Cystic Fibrosis, I would like to thank all those who helped to put this law into effect. It means so much to me to know that I can walk into any workplace in Massachusetts now without having to worry about irritating my lungs. Thank you.
-Kathryn, Plymouth July 6, 2004

I am so excited for MA to finally be smoke-free! It is encouraging that the people of MA and the MA legislature have finally stood up for the health of all workers and recognized that no one should be subjected to breathing secondhand smoke on the job. On a more selfish note, I can't wait to go out to restaurants and bars and not come home smelling like smoke!
Thank you for helping make MA a smoke-free state!
-Holly, Norwell July 6, 2004

I am very happy about no smoking in the work place, I was once a smoker some 30 years I quit that was the best day of my life, keep up your work.
-Nancy, Braintree July 6, 2004

I am so glad that our lawmakers made smoke-free workplaces a reality!
-Marcia, Newton July 6, 2004

I am so pleased that the citizens of this state again have proved that we want our neighbors healthy and happy. I am so trilled at this bill, losing my mother to cancer was a hard blow and to ensure that no one gets ill from another’s freedom to smoke is another great stride that makes my mother’s death have meaning.
-Laurie, Wareham July 6, 2004

It's great I can go to work and breath fresh clean air,and not smell stale tobacco,this is a great victory for everybody.
-Robert, Malden July 6, 2004

As someone who is sensitive to smoke I am very appreciative of the new law. It means that I can go to workplaces, including restaurants and centers for entertainment anywhere in the commonwealth without endangering my self.
-Judith, Watertown July 6, 2004

I am very excited about the new law. As an ex-smoker I can say that I am sure that this new law would annoy me enough to really consider quitting. However, because I have already quit, I am very happy to know that when I return home from my dart match tonight, I will not smell like a chimney. My singing voice will also hold out all night now, giving me more versatility in song selection, especially toward the end of the evening. I am also, of course, ecstatic that my quitting smoking 10 years ago will really begin to take effect today, because I will no longer be exposed to second hand smoke. I feel that I am also free to go to restaurants that I have formerly shunned in favor of smoke free restaurants in cities, like Salem, had already passed the law.
-Patrick, Salem July 6, 2004

Thank you ever so much for helping to make smoking history in this great state of ours. If it wasn't for people like you and me, smoking would, probably, still be allowed in workplaces across MA. Again, thank you so much for your persistence and tireless effort in helping to make all workplaces across the Bay State smoke free.
-Andy, Boston July 6, 2004

My husband & I are so grateful to be able to be @ work or in public, without having to breathe 2nd hand smoke. Thank You so much for seeing our needs!
-Nancy & Peter, Plymouth July 6, 2004

Thank you very much for making work places smoke-free! At my previous work place, I was subjected to second-hand smoke throughout my entire shift when I was in the office because most of the other people on my shift smoked. Also, when I went to restaurants, I had to be subjected to second-hand smoke if I were in the section that happened to be closest to the smoking section. Second-hand smoke makes it hard to breathe and I cough (etc.). I am so glad that You made smoking history in Massachusetts!
-Karen, Arlington July 6, 2004

The more of us that came together in one voice; one mind; one body; began to experience our becoming united in our stance to live a smoke-free existence. To those who needed to smoke, our united stand allowed them to experience what clean air actually is. My great hope is that with each individual clean, clear breath of fresh air that the smoker is allowed to inhale, the smoker will develop a craving for more of that special something that was once committed to memory. The brain will ask the lungs what was that_ The lungs will reply, oh, I remember, that was air. In my lifetime, I prayed, believed and now, it is!
-Dolores, Fall River July 6, 2004

As a restaurant employee, and as one who enjoys live music, I can't say enough about how great the smoking ban is!!!
-Dan, Ludlow July 6, 2004

When I think of the smoke-free workplace law, I often think of my cat Blueberry. He died of lung cancer when I was about 14 years old. Both my parents smoked. I never made the connection, until a few years ago, between his death and the cigarette, cigar, and pipe smoke that swirled around in our house. Secondhand smoke is a killer.
I'm a tobacco treatment specialist. I am incredibly grateful to the advocates who worked for this law, and to the members of the legislature who fought long and hard to make Smoke-free Massachusetts a reality. As an ex-smoker, I am extremely sensitive to secondhand smoke. I literally get sick every time I'm around smoke for too long - my lungs don't like it. Let's not forget the research that shows how bad secondhand smoke is for ex-smokers!
The people I help to quit smoking have mixed feelings about the smokefree law. Some feel persecuted, and wonder what the limit of the law's effects will be. But by and large, even amongst these stalwart smokers' rights folks, people are pleased with the legislation. Smokefree worksites make it easier for smokers to quit and stay quit. No question about it. I always keep the smoker in mind, and this law is positive for smokers as well as never smokers and ex-smokers.
Thanks again to all those who helped make us a healthier state. And thanks especially to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, and Lori and Diane, for their incredible leadership.
-Alice, Boston July 6, 2004

I still have vision's of my deceased wife, Anna, dying at age 54 in 1983 from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease due to smoking cigarettes for many years. After fighting this disease for many years, it made the use of external oxygen necessary for her as a prescription from her Doctor, the Pulmonary Director at U Mass in Worcester which she used for three years until her horrible death. I am thankful for the reminders from Diane and Lori in their persistence to successfully get this non smoking bill passed into law…. I will notice if there is a difference now that second hand smoke will be eliminated from my lung's forever in Massachusetts, I hope.
-Angelo, Marlborough July 6, 2004

Thank you for passing the law for a smoke-free workplace. My children and grand-children and future healthy generations will appreciate your foresight in protecting their health.
-Carol, Gloucester July 6, 2004

It is a pleasure to enter my workplace (which has long been smoke free) and other establishments which are smoke free. These other establishments are other people's work places!
-Sandra, Richmond July 6, 2004

Hopefully, more people will take this as a way of helping them quit someday. Non-smokers shouldn't have to be around smokers, especially in the workplace. It will lead to more production of products and services and I believe people will be more positive.
-Cindy, Northfield July 6, 2004

I am thrilled that I can now walk into any building an not worry about inhaling second hand smoke. As a cancer survivor I try very hard to protect my body from known carcinogens and feel very frustrated that I am at the mercy of those who make choices that effect me. I am grateful for the legislation that protects all of us, our children and our grandchildren from passive exposure to a known carcinogen.
-Debbie, Newton July 6, 2004

I just want to say thank you for making restaurants and bars a smoke free place. I worked in bars for many years and had to deal with the smoke and worrying about what it might be doing to me. With this new law I can go out and enjoy myself with out worry. I think this is definitely a step in the right direction for a healthier America. Again Thank You.
-Barbara, Acton July 6, 2004

I worked for five years in an office where the person next door smoked. The smoke constantly drifted through the door of his "private office" into my office. By the time I left that job I was using two allergy medications and two asthma inhalers on a daily basis. I'm delighted that I will never again be faced with a choice between breathing healthy air and a paycheck.
-Eileen, Somerville July 6, 2004

Thank you, Massachusetts lawmakers, for making our state a safer place in which to live by enacting a statewide workplace smoking ban!! Over the past years, I have said good bye to my father, my aunt, my uncle, my grandfather, a very dear father-in-law and my lifetime closest friend. All were heavy smokers and smoking played a role in their early deaths from a variety of illnesses from heart disease to cancer. Now I note that non-smoking family members have recently experienced smoking-related sickness--from exposure to secondhand smoke.
Hopefully the statewide smoking ban will help to prevent others from experiencing losses such as I have known and at the same time, help folks who do not smoke to avoid serious illness caused by unavoidable exposure to the secondhand smoke of others. The ban is a matter of life - and breath - for us all!!
-Myrna, Dighton July 6, 2004

Being a former smoker, I know exactly how hard it is to sit down with a cup of coffee on break and not light up, especially when the boss is screaming he wants that report he just gave you 5 minutes ago yesterday and the computer has just crashed. Every one else in the office seems to be having a grand time but you can't even raise your eyes without another report being dropped on your desk or in your lap. Man this is stress and it is crunch time . Instead of lighting up, I just look up now and say very sweetly, “what do you want first_" Works every time. I have been smoke free for over 10 years and quite frankly when someone lights up, I yell it stinks, I stomp my feet, I spray the area with neutralizing spray and say you can't smoke in here. Thanks for your efforts.
-Maureen, Fall River July 6, 2004

Thank you for making Massachusetts a revolutionary yet again. The state is safer for my niece and future generations.
-Andrea, Boston July 6, 2004

I am very thankful for all the work that has been to make sure that Massachusetts workplaces are now smoke free. I would especially like to thank those involved in signing the bill, and those who put their time, effort, and total support into the process of making Massachusetts a smoke free state. Thank you!
-Meaghan, Westminster July 6, 2004

I've been waiting a long time for this law. Smoke-free workplaces mean I can go into a bar/restaurant without the smoke floating over to the non-smoker section. I can go sing Karaoke without feeling like I smoked a pack of cigarettes the next day. I can stop worrying about all that second-hand smoke I've been breathing in on my rare "night-out" with the girls. I can also feel better knowing that thousands of folks like me won't be unnecessarily exposed to second-hand smoke in the workplace, and maybe it will even encourage some smokers to do what I did - QUIT! I'm happy to say I've been a non-smoker for 16 years now - no more yearly bronchitis, no more smelling like a stale cigarette, and no more indecisiveness over quitting! Good luck to anyone struggling with giving up cigs for good! One tip that really helped me was to make a list of every reason I wanted to stay stopped, and look at it everytime I got a craving. It really helped me, and I hope it will help you.
-Jerri, Turners Falls July 6, 2004

I am a bartender, and I understand the consequences of the job. I have been bartending for the past 6 years. By having government finally standup and help make smoking illegal... my heart and lungs pay homage to all that help lobby the government to understand the dire consequences. thank you
-Joe, West Springfield July 6, 2004

I am so thankful that MA has cared enough about the children and smoke free workers of the state to stop smoking in all workplaces. I am comforted to know that I will never have to leave another place of business because of second hand smoke in MA again!
-Jennifer, Hanson July 6, 2004

I grew up in the '60s and '70s in a smoke-free home. I never smoked and neither did my friends. Later, I discovered that I liked going to bars and rock and roll clubs but hated the smoke. I hated the smell; I hated to wash all my clothes afterwards; I hated how my car smelled after my smoky clothes had been in it; I especially hated the stuffy nose and the migraine that followed. I would go to clubs and bars but I never stayed long. I never could enjoy the live music because the smoke made me miserable. I suffer from severe migraines that are triggered by smoke and other airborne substances like perfume and chemical odors. The Boston smoking ban allowed some freedom from stinkiness and headaches but now I am truly grateful that I am now able to enjoy live music anywhere in the state or have a cocktail without having to worry about debilitating headaches. It's wonderful! I can go out and be headache-free!
-Robin, Beverly Farms July 7, 2004

Well, I can not thank you enough. I have hated smoking since I was a small child growing up in a smoking household. I dreaded coming home every day and DREAMED of leaving home as soon as I was 18. Not because I had a bad home life because I could not stand the smell of the house I lived in. Never knowing it would take the lives of both my parents and to that I detest! I am so grateful you all have taken this effort to a Government level and that non smokers are able to be free to breath cleaner air every day in their workplace and in public places! I'm eternally grateful!
-Marguerite, Springfield July 7, 2004

I lost my father to smoking in 1998, and now, my mother has a terminal illness due to smoking. I was a chain smoker for years, until I realized that SMOKING KILLS.
I support this law, because second hand smoke, has been proven to be dangerous to non-smokers. There are case after case, of lung cancer patients, who did not smoke. But, they were living with a smoker, or they were always in contact with smokers. This is proof positive, that second hand smoking anywhere, is dangerous to non smokers. It can be DEADLY. That includes the workplace.
I support this law, to stop the spread of second hand smoke.
-Della, Beverly July 7, 2004

Congratulations, Massachusetts! I kicked smoking twenty years ago. I'm so glad you have too.
-Patti, Truro July 7, 2004

July 5, 2004 became the new Independence Day for Massachusetts businesses, bars and restaurants. The day we became free of the deadly effects of second hand smoke. The day the Tobacco Cartel’s strangle hold on our public health ended.
Workers will no longer be forced to breathe second hand smoke just to keep their jobs. Patrons will no longer be forced to breathe second hand smoke just to visit their favorite restaurant or bar.
It is time to thank our legislators and public health advocates like Ms. Diane Pickles, Ms. Lori Fresina and countless others for their tireless work in bringing this Smoke Free Workplace legislation to Massachusetts.
Without your efforts we would not be celebrating this great victory over the deadly effects of second hand smoke in our communities. Thank you for making “Smoking History” and for protecting the health and welfare of all workers and patrons in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
-Ed, Holden July 7, 2004

I quit smoking 30 years ago and I have grown to despise being in an area with smoke. I have stayed away from places that allowed smoking because it is very bothersome to me and I am concerned about the serious health problems that come from smoke. This new law is a dream come true for me.
-Normand, Chicopee July 7, 2004

I am very happy about the recent passage of the smoke-free workplace bill signed into law on 7/5/04. Thanks to everyone that helped to make this come to fruition. Perhaps the next target could be: smoke-free play grounds. That way, kids playing there would not have to breath second hand smoke. Thanks again.
-Mary, Billerica July 7, 2004

Thank you...Thank you..Thank you...I will no longer smell like an ashtray any more.....
-Suzanne, Holyoke July 7, 2004

I have worked for some time in a smoke-free environment, and have come to appreciate the forward thinking my employer has shown. I have always thought it was wrong for so many others to have to put up with someone else's smoke while trying to work. I am especially pleased that bars are now smoke-free. I would never go to a bar, because of the smoke. Now I can, and bartenders can work without risk of disease or death resulting from someone else's addiction.
-Tom, Worcester July 7, 2004

It is great to be able to take my daughter to a restaurant with out having to worry about sitting next to the smoking section, and having her breath second hand smoke. Also it improves the health of people in the services or restaurant business as they do not have to breath second hand smoke while at work.
-Phil, Lynn July 7, 2004

I am thrilled that Massachusetts workplaces have become smoke-free for both myself and my children. There is nothing worse than going out someplace and having to inhale second hand smoke and then coming home smelling like a chimney. It is about time that those of us that don't smoke and those of us with allergies or other medical problems are able to go out and enjoy ourselves without worrying about exacerbating our current health problems or causing any future health problems. Now if we can do something about people that smoke in outdoor areas and blow smoke in our direction, we will have truly accomplished something.
-Alison, Abington July 7, 2004

As an asthmatic who is severely allergic to tobacco smoke, I am thrilled about the new legislation. Because of it, I will finally be able to patronize businesses which formerly allowed smoking. My life has new possibilities, now that my life-threatening health condition will no longer be impacted by being exposed to second-hand smoke.
-Suzanne, Clinton July 7, 2004

Thank you for all your help and effort to ban smoking in MA workplaces. We need to set examples for our children and young people, who are our future. A little more cleaner and fresher air is thanks enough. God bless.
-Reed Family, Abington July 7, 2004

My Grandfather who lived with us growing up came down with cancer of the esophagus. We did not know that second hand smoke could cause cancer. My grandfather never smoked a day in his life but my parents smoked three (3)packs a day. So I know first hand what it can do to a family and I as an x smoker myself I am truly grateful for a smoking history in MA.
-Helen, Middleboro July 7, 2004

We are a husband and wife who are particularly grateful to everyone who participated in making smoking history in the workplaces in MA. We worked in an environment where smoking was prevalent and we both suffer with COPD/Emphysema. You don't have to smoke to get this, just hang around other smokers. Mr. Romney and all law makers who made this possible, Thank you.
-Patricia and Richard, Methuen July 7, 2004

I couldn't be happier about the passage of the bill. This is good news not only for me a grandmother, but also for my children and my grandchildren. I can be relieved that my grandkids won't encounter second hand smoke going into public places, and neither will their children. It's a win win situation for everyone. Bravo Governor Romney, another small step has been taken to clean up our air.
-Donna, South Hadley July 7, 2004

As a former smoker, I can appreciate what it's like to enjoy a cigarette in a restaurant or bar, but now that I have quit, I understand the importance of smoke free workplaces. It's bad enough to have to wait for a table in a smoke filled bar by myself or with kids, I can't even imagine working in one. Many friends have expressed to me their appreciation of my involvement in trying to have stricter smoking laws. They have suffered from second-hand smoke long enough. It's exciting to be part of making it a reality. Thank you to everyone for all your hard work!
-Beth, Westford July 7, 2004

I have multiple chemical allergies--which includes cigarette/cigar/pipe smoke. It is SO nice to be able to go into a restaurant and not have to worry if someone is going to 'light up' and find myself choking. Thank you so very much for making smoking history in Massachusetts.
-Barbara, Burlington July 7, 2004

After years of being unable to go to certain places because of the second hand smoke that triggered my migraine headaches, my husband and I can finally go out and enjoy a night on the town without me being ill! Thank you so much for all your hard work!
-Shirley, Billerica July 7, 2004

I wish to take this moment to thank all involved with the Mass workplace smoking ban. Thank You to all the law makers and activist and business owners that are able to see through the smoke. It is so much more enjoyable to be able to go out and about all night and not have to suffer the sore scratchy throat and rhtmly voice in the morning, and also it is wonderful to wake up and not smell like an ash tray as well. Thank You All Well Done
-David, New Bedford July 7, 2004

Thanks to all the legislators who made smoking history in this state. It is such an important step toward a healthy lifestyle for all.
-Eileen, Shrewsbury July 7, 2004

The most important part of this is the fact "regular" workplaces (offices, industrial, and the like) that allow smoking, can no more. I was in the unpleasant situation for 1 1/2 years of working in a manufacturing plant that allowed smoking, and was my reason to leave. Now any business has to keep the air clean, plus the added bonus of having a restaurant/bar combo not smell awful, either. Worst of all, after being in a smoke-infested place, I tie my hair back because the smell is literally nauseating. Outside of private places, that's an added bonus: non vomit-inducing hair. :)
Hopefully, this will stay in place.
-George, Leominster July 7, 2004

My mother had been a long time smoker. she suffered from pulmonary disease and heart failure, as a result of smoking. for ten yesrs she had to use oxygen. With the new laws, at least others may be spared this horror.
-Susan, Medfield July 7, 2004

I'm very proud of myself and all the others that participated in this project. I've been pushing and suggesting the idea of a smoke-free workplace not just for me but for the many who's health was being jeopardized. Just the other day, at Quincy Center Station I was asked for my support into giving the new ban a push. I automatically signed, the man was surprised that I was one of many that helped get this bill passed. I give my thanks to all of you. This is a big step contributing into making our world a better place and improving the human health. We did it you guys!
-Kitty, Quincy July 7, 2004

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I have had asthma for most of my life and am truly allergic to smoke. I cannot walk in front of someone who is/has been smoking without holding my breath. Sometimes I even start coughing before I know there is smoke around. I would seldom go out to eat because of the smoke: even if there was a non-smoking area, it would be filled with "second hand" smoke. Now I can have that opportunity, and so can the young ones who will be able to grow up without such a menacing environment.
-Janet, West Brookfield July 7, 2004

I am grateful to have the opportunity to go out to eat in safety in every town in Massachusetts, and grateful that my children will be protected from deadly smoke exposure in the workplace when they grow up. Thanks for standing up to the tobacco lobbyists!
-Phoebe, Shelburne Falls July 7, 2004

Thank you so very much for possibly saving someone’s life...maybe one day your own! Just by doing this grateful journey down the right road! I thank you!!
-Kathy, North Adams July 7, 2004

My better half is a lung cancer survivor, but only by a slim margin. I will not be found in any place where there is smoke!
-Don, Lexington July 8, 2004

Some people like myself are actually allergic to cigarette smoke. Since my eyes are important to my work, I don't need for them to be burning.
-Carolyn, Winchester July 8, 2004

My mother was a smoker, and assigned to the smokers lounge at the school where she used to teach. When she was diagnosed with emphysema, and quit smoking, the school refused to reassign her to a smoke free teachers lounge. She had to quit her job. The smoke free workplace law will guarantee that no one will have to put up with smoke at work. Now if only the other states will follow suit.
-Karen, Melrose July 8, 2004

I am a nurse and have repeatedly noticed when I am exposed to the second-hand smoke of others, that I frequently come down with a cold or flu afterwards because of the irritation to my respiratory system. I suffer sore throats, headaches, and coughing that frequently goes on for several days after exposure. People with asthma, COPD, heart conditions and other health problems are even more vulnerable to the negative effects. Please make all work places smoke free!
-Janet, Amherst July 8, 2004

Now we can go to any and all the wonderful restaurants in and around Andover without concern about tobacco smoke. The wait staff and bartenders finally are able to work in healthier air in these establishments. Many thanks to the forward thinking and hard work of the public health community and the legislators to help make this happen.
-Jim, Andover July 8, 2004

I had the chance to ‘volunteer’ to visit a number of bars and restaurants days before the law went into effect to give them info about the law as well as posters, coasters and signs. I was blown away by the attitude of the managers and patrons, the vast majority of whom were more than ready for Massachusetts to become 100% smoke-free. What a change from a few years ago when we would have been tossed out of a bar for even suggesting that folks stop smoking! I’m grateful to the many grassroots activists who have fought so hard and forever changed our world for the better!
-Lori, Wilmington July 8, 2004

My life was influenced by smoking in that at an early age I considered singing and playing (keyboard) in public venues, only to find that all the smoke makes the voice tired and rhtmly. I decided not to follow that path. Also, one would come home reeking of smoke, requiring more shampoos and clothes washing. I can now suggest playing music in restaurants and clubs as a full-time or part-time career option for young people. This might even lead to more talent in Massachusetts being made public.
-Jay, South Deerfield July 7, 2004

I am truly delighted that I can now go anywhere in this great commonwealth without being accosted by the unhealthful smoke and the vile odors of tobacco. The bonus is that finally a few more people will quit.
-Sydney, Boston July 6, 2004

It's simple why I appreciate a smoke-free workplace: I don't have to deal with the smell and danger of second-hand smoke, and neither do the employees!!! It's great.
-Nancy, Franklin July 9, 2004

I think it is a public service to protect those who do not wish to be subject to second hand smoke.
-Lisa, Everett July 10, 2004

I am very thankful the bill passed, maybe some don't like it but it for all our goods. I can now breathe the right air and hopefully keep healthy. Thanks for all everyone help.
-Karen, Haverhill July 10, 2004

Second-hand smoke is not only annoying for non-smokers, but also can kill. I am glad that smoking is history in Mass.
-Doug, Lee July 9, 2004

In addition to there actually being less (no) smoke in workplaces in Massachusetts, the other reason I'm very happy about this decision is that I'm hoping the practice will spread to every city and town in the United States and to go on to hopefully, someday - banning cigarettes entirely. If it was just about anything else that is KNOWN to kill thousands and thousands of people all over the world, wouldn't the government take it off the market_
-Carol, Lowell July 11, 2004

I began smoking when I was 15 years old and I quit when I was 29. Second-hand smoke has always disturbed me, as soon as I stopped smoking. Whenever anyone is smoking, even outdoors, it really bothers me. Now I found out, in my 50's, that I have a mild case of emphysema and COPD. It is more important than ever for me to avoid second hand smoke. Now that these new laws have been passed in my state, I have more of a chance of keeping myself healthy and free of second hand smoke. I now walk a mile and a half almost every day, and do the most I can to be free of harmful pollutants. My mom smoked even after being diagnosed with emphysema, and I am learning from her mistakes. Thank you to all of the lawmakers who will help me continue to lead a more healthy and happy existence.
-Wendy, Washington July 12, 2004

As a respiratory therapist, I am fundamentally in favor of any methods to contain or prevent the detrimental effects of tobacco smoke on everyone, not only tobacco users. In 1992, the voters established the Health Protection Fund, which was the basis of the Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program. This, in addition to the efforts of the Massachusetts legislature, was courageous for its time, as is the smoke-free workplace law. Each has blazed new trails in public health, and will be recalled with great relief and pride in the future. Thank you for having the vision and courage to think beyond today.
-Priscilla, Belmont July 13, 2004

I'm thrilled that I can go to a few of the local restaurants I've avoided because of smoke. You have taken a great step forward in helping people enjoy fresh air!
-Sheryl, Fall River July 16, 2004

Everytime my fiance and I go for a night on the town we notice when someone used to smoke nearby and complain to each other about the fact our clothes reeked of it when we got home. Now everytime we go to a smokefree bar or public venue we notice and are thankful that there is no longer any smoke irritating my contacts and bringing down our evening out.
-Rebecca, Newton August 7, 2004 Thank you for making all restaurants and bars smoke-free. It is so pleasant to eat a meal without dealing with secondhand smoke. "Smoking sections" simply did not work.
-L, Longmeadow September 8, 2004

It's finally arrived - a smoke free Massachusetts. I have waited most of my life for these days to arrive. Thank you to my fellow lawmakers.
-Gail, Quincy September 8, 2004

I have been a smoker for 15 years; it has been sooooooo hard to quit. I encourage kids not to make the same mistake I made, don't pick it up, light it up. Too hard to quit and for some almost impossible.
-Catherine, Lynn September 8, 2004

It's great not to have to breathe it in - thanks.
-Heather, Cambridge September 8, 2004

I just recently visited family in Arizona, and took a day trip to Vegas. It made me realize how lucky we are here not having to hear "smoking or non-smoking" when entering a restaurant, and not having to smell it while eating! Thank you for the wise decision for those who have breathing diseases like my asthmatic daughter, and ex-smokers like me who don't want to smell the smoke.
-Janice, Randolph September 9, 2004

I am extremely happy with the new smoke free workplace law. Second-hand smoke caused respiratory problems for me from childhood on through the present. My father died of lung cancer after being a heavy smoker all his life. With the law now in effect, I can go to restaurants, clubs, or bars with my friends. This law not only protects the health of workers, it boosts the economy when people like me can go out and spend money supporting local businesses we used to avoid!
-Stephen, Greenfield September 9, 2004

Thank you to the lawmakers who passed the Smoke Free Laws for MA. It will do so much to make public places much healthier for all of us. I appreciate not having to be subjected to someone else's nasty, unhealthy bad habit that could shorten my life and theirs significantly. It also sends a better message to our young people to help them make the decision to never start smoking.
-Gail, Orange September 9, 2004

As I travel around the country, one of the most frustrating things I have to put up with is second-hand smoke. At restaurants, amusement parks, and other places in most states throughout the country I don't always have much of a choice. It is such a relief to come home to Massachusetts and know that I am relieved from that frustration and unhealthy behavior. I hope the trend continues nationwide.
-Adam, Saugus September 10, 2004

How wonderful it is that smoking in this state has been taken down another notch! There's enough poison on this earth already as it is, which makes it difficult to watch those you care about and work with make themselves sick. Hopefully making it harder to smoke at work will help people quit. Thanks everybody!
-Anna, Great Barrington September 12, 2004

Smoking in a public place is assaulting others. Thanks for ending smoking in workplaces.
-John, East Orleans September 12, 2004

Smoke-free workplaces is a huge step for Massachusetts. It has been incredible, dream-like even, to go into restaurants and not have to request the non-smoking section, to go out on the weekends and not come home reeking of cigarette smoke (not to mention not hacking up phlegm the next morning. This is a key step towards allowing everyone to choose a healthy lifestyle and not having to breathe in the smoke of someone else's choice. Who knows, maybe someday we will even be able to ban smoking in public places and completely realize the dream!
-Margaret, Northborough September 13, 2004

In November 2002 we learned that my mother, Gloria, had stage four lung cancer. What started as pain in her hip and was explained away as arthritis pain was actually bone cancer - yes, it had already spread from her lungs before she knew she even had it. Mom had quit smoking what seems like a very long time ago...yet, it came back to haunt us. She fought a fight I never knew she had in her. An agonizing fight that I hope her story will prevent someone - or many someones - from ever having to fight. She lost all of the weight she had struggled to lose most of her adult life. She lost her hair. She lost her appetite. She lost sleep. She lost her freedom - unable to get around without pain, unable to drive, often unable to be alone. There were so many things that she lost...too many to mention. But, what she did not lose was her faith. And it was her faith that carried her through those long months. Mom fought for a year. She fought to the end. She died last October with one regret. That she would not live to see her new Granddaughter. Her Granddaughter was born 8 months and 23 days after Mom passed away. She is now 4 weeks old (today!) and it is my hope that she will never breathe someones secondhand smoke. That she will never have a friend who takes up smoking. And that she will never have to watch someone she loves die from such a horrible, preventable thing as lung cancer. I will share Mom's picture with all of the children I know. I will show them her smiling face....even at the end when she smiled because she knew that she was going to be going home soon. And I will tell them of how much she loved children. And how she never, never wants to hear that they have taken up smoking. I will tell them that the reason she is so thin in the picture is because she was sick. I will show them the pictures when she had lost most of her hair. I will tell them how much I miss her. And I will make them promise me - and Mom - that they will never, never smoke or be around anyone who is smoking. I LOVE YOU MOM!
-Sarah, South Easton October 4, 2004

About 15 years ago I was working as a volunteer for a small-town newspaper. I enjoyed the work but was surrounded by chain-smoking fellow workers whose habit gave me asthma and a constant headache. My complaints did no good, and I reluctantly resigned. Thank you for your campaign against smoking in the workplace.
-Mary, Waban October 11, 2004

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