Smoking and K2 ban to be signed
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Kan. gov. to sign smoking restrictions Friday
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson plans to sign a bill that will ban smoking in bars, restaurants and other public places.
Parkinson has scheduled a ceremony for 10 a.m. Friday in the south wing of the Statehouse’s second floor. He’s also planning to re-enact the signing Monday in Kansas City, Kan., and Salina.
Legislators approved the bill two weeks ago, and it will take effect July 1.
The bill bans smoking not only in restaurants and bars, but in retail stores, libraries, theaters and most places of employment.
It has exceptions for tobacco shops, private clubs and designated smoking areas in nursing homes. The most-criticized exception is for the gambling areas of new state-owned casinos.
New Kan. law will ban chemicals for synthetic pot
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — It will soon be illegal in Kansas to possess or sell two chemicals used to turn herbs into synthetic marijuana.
Gov. Mark Parkinson signed a bill Wednesday outlawing the chemicals that are key ingredients in altered herbs that are sometimes known as “K2” or “Spice.” The new law takes effect March 18.
The measure also outlaws two other chemicals used for a new form of the illegal, euphoria-inducing drug Ecstasy.
The chemicals used in “K2” or “Spice” are sprayed or sprinkled as a powder on herbs, so they can be smoked and produce a pot-like high.
Law enforcement officials in northeast Kansas have said they began seeing people using the synthetic marijuana last summer. Missouri legislators also are considering a ban.
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
FINALLY, a healthier smoke free Kansas.
Did the EPA just ban prairie pasture burning?
Just remember to be careful what you ask the government to regulate, it may come back to bite you.
Think "sugar tax".
Let's tax soda pop, IT'S FOR THE CHILDREN.
March 11, 2010 at 11:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blulitespecial (anonymous) says...
Sure! Sugar,salt,lard,light bulbs,tax it all! Time for my monthly run to the reservation,and pick up some cheap smokes.Think I'll burn the brush pile when I get back.
March 11, 2010 at 1:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
giggles (anonymous) says...
Will someone please tell me why the governer is spending our tax dollars to re-enact his signing of this bill two more times. If people are really desperate enough to see this pomp and circumstance, then go to Topeka to see it. Spending money on this silliness is just well, silly...
March 11, 2010 at 1:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sandman (anonymous) says...
giggles, to me it is just another way of showing "no common sense" and wanting to sink that knife in as deep as possible. What is forgotten is that the sales tax they so want to increase will have no value when no one is buying the cigarettes. Yes, now we'll tax pop, candy etc all in the pretense of making us healthier, remember it is ALL done for the people, who will have lost their choices!!!!
March 11, 2010 at 2:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UsayULoveGod (anonymous) says...
Government does whaterver they want to whomever they want!
March 11, 2010 at 5:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
vtxjtr (anonymous) says...
What about just legalizing marijuana? We all know it isn't harmful. At least they wouldn't be using chemicals to make K-2 or buying pot from drug dealers that also happen to be the local meth dealers usually.
sandman, State Representative Scott Schwab stated "All it does is make you crave another bag of chips." on the marijuana subject. Chips are so unhealthy!
March 11, 2010 at 5:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
generalsn (anonymous) says...
We had the same hoopla and fanfare over two years ago here in Illinois. It has faded into forgotten history. After patiently waiting through the first winter for all these new customers, many small neighborhood bars had to allow smoking rather than closing. Risking a few fines is better than just laying down like sheep. The only complaints are from the neighbors of the bars that comply. Restaurants do ok with a higher turnover and many more called in "to go" orders.
March 11, 2010 at 6:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
booker5m (anonymous) says...
There ways the state can make money but all they know is tax! Wish I didnt have to work Sat. Would enjoy tearing into the boys at the Egg meeting
March 11, 2010 at 7:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blulitespecial (anonymous) says...
generalsn- I heard the clubs and sportsbars in Chicago legally allowed smoking during big events to keep from losing too much money(read taxes)-I guess because all the "new" customers were a no-show.
Just a thought-If they want to tax sugar,soft drinks and such,another good source of tax revenue would be on 36" doors and stairlifts.It could be argued that most people that need them somehow or another escaped the new taxes on whatever is/was/might be bad for them,depending on who's in office.
March 11, 2010 at 8:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Anybody know anything about a bill to put sales tax on residential utilities in Kansas? I heard a short blurb about that on the Ag News this morning.
March 12, 2010 at 6:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Here, let me answer my own question. Thank you, Matt.
http://www.thekansan.com/newsnow/x112...
March 12, 2010 at 6:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
Put a $3 a day tax on cellphone use, $6/day if texting and phone use, $9/day if surfing the net from the phone, texting and calling. Cellphone use is bad for your health they claim. People rudely use them in bars and in restaurants and other public places where they don't belong. Adults using them sets a bad example for kids who try to emulate what they see. They causes accidents by careless people driving while using them. People shouldn't be allowed to harm others because they think they have the right to call, text or surf whenever and wherever they please! Crime is up, people are stealing cellphones. If people weren't spending so much on cellphone use, they could afford medical insurance.
Sound familiar?
March 12, 2010 at 7:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seadog14 (anonymous) says...
Can you say "STUPID"--How about a ban on teen-age drinking, a tax on booze, etc. You know why, most of your governors and senators are drunks---and yet rivers continue to be polluted, cars continue to be on the roads, trash and filth still litter out highways, biways and towns. If these idiots think that banning the smoking in places is going to make people quit, they are definitely on drugs--oh, tax those too--People don't believe me, the revolution is coming-----
March 12, 2010 at 9:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yev_kassem (anonymous) says...
The ban is not a bad thing people. It helps protect people from other peoples bad decisions. Plus if nothing else it creates some uniformity (I don't even know if thats a word) to the laws of different communities. Now all citizens know that they can't smoke in certain places instead of one city having a ban and another not having one.
March 12, 2010 at 9:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
giggles (anonymous) says...
It doesn't protect people from bad decisions, it makes their decisions for them.
March 12, 2010 at 9:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yev_kassem (anonymous) says...
giggles-- you are right it doesn't protect people from their OWN bad decisions but is does HELP protect people from OTHER'S bad decisions
March 12, 2010 at 9:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
giggles (anonymous) says...
Those people could have protected themselves, it is called free will, and responsibility.
Apparently you are telling me that those people don't have enough common sense to use them.
March 12, 2010 at 10:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yev_kassem (anonymous) says...
Those people are not the ones creating an unsafe enviornment.
March 12, 2010 at 10:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Smoking is bad, K?
Sodas are bad, K?
double the tax on smokes and booze and it will make people quit and get healthier, K?
Put a tax on soda pop and help kids lose weight,K?
What's good for the smokers and drunks should be good for all the fat little booger eaters out there, K?
March 12, 2010 at 10:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
How about this for a slogan?
"Tax Soda Pop,
IT'S FOR THE CHILDREN!"
March 12, 2010 at 10:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_bvT-...
March 12, 2010 at 10:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blulitespecial (anonymous) says...
create-I just read the newslink about utlity taxes.Holy c... here we go.I have to find out more about this.I use some natural gas,but I pay likely double what folks right in Emporia pay.Without a pellet stove my gas bill would be over 500 bucks again.Twice now I've spent 3 to 5,000 dollars to cut my bills,and now they want to raise taxes because I use less.Backward thinking.I already pay extra insurance for solid fuel heat.Guess I'll cut it down even more.If this passes,I'll leave it to you folks in town heating a three or four thousand sq ft
house to pay the higher taxes.
March 12, 2010 at 11:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Gosh create, that didn't work out very well for the teacher or the students did it?
Pretty good tune for pink floyd though.
March 12, 2010 at 11:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
Second hand smoke, is this the same government that dumped 20 million gallons of dioxin containing herbicide on the country of Vietnam. 3 more diseases have been added to veterans problems--Parkinson's disease, ischemic heart disease and hairy cell Leukemia. Go to Media Blackout on Agent Orange.
March 12, 2010 at 11:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yev_kassem (anonymous) says...
I am not opposed to a tax on pop. The state needs money and I am all for everyone having to pay for it equally.
March 12, 2010 at 12:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
vtxjtr (anonymous) says...
I think a tax on soda is a bad idea...
I still don't see the problem with legalizing marijuana for the tax offset. I wrote the mayor, but I haven't heard anything.
Anyone on this board, can you tell me why?
March 12, 2010 at 1:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Aubree88 (anonymous) says...
I don't believe in telling other people what they can and cannot do with their bodies. Prohibition is unconstitutional. Of course, I do wish people would be more careful, especially my loved ones. My friends were telling me about some sort of blueberry K2 incense and I googled it and found out it is counterfeit. Apparently there are only a few authentic blends so the list of fakes is scary long and they don't quite know what is in those, http://www.k2incense.org. It's worth checking out if you buy this or know someone who does. Stay safe.....
September 17, 2010 at 1:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ashbash584 (anonymous) says...
A ban on these products is beyond hypocritical. The FDA approves toxic substances for human consumption all of the time and no one bats an eye, but when it comes to legal highs, watch out! What is the point of prohibition anyway? These guys have k2 incense products that are legal in every single state http://www.k2cafe.org/ so you see, it's a never-ending cycle.
November 30, 2010 at 4:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )