Clearing The Air

Thursday, July 02, 2009

Revenue losses from Las Vegas smoking ban forces government to allow smoking ban exemptions

The Associated Press

Tue, Jun 9, 2009 (4:54 p.m.)

A plan to roll back part of a voter-approved smoking ban and exempt tobacco trade conventions from the prohibition became law on Tuesday without Gov. Jim Gibbons' signature.

When Gibbons sent AB309 to the secretary of state's office, making it part of Nevada law...amendment to AB309 was pushed by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority because some groups with tobacco industry ties canceled Nevada conventions after the 2006 ban took effect....

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority sought the change to Nevada's statewide smoking ban after losing $41 million in business when the anti-business initiative (smoking ban) was enacted in 2006.