Good morning all!
A United States Supreme Court decision (quietly rendered on Christmas Eve) goes into effect today! In a 7-2 decision, the court ruled that the powers enumerated by the U.S Constitution does not permit the Federal Government to infringe on the peoples right to smoke. In a majority opinion, written by Ruth Badder Ginsburger, the court ruled that the right to pass laws about smoking was to be returned to the individual states! "People in this country do have the right to kill themselves in any damnfool way that they choose" stated the opinion!
While most states already have very tight laws prohibiting the use of tobacco products, these laws do not extend to Federally owned proplery! Of course the District of Columbia is not a state. If would require a constitutional ammendment to ban smoking there! This process could take as long as 4-8 years!
Therefore, as of today people are free to smoke in Washington D.C, and at our National Parks and Monuments! The tobacco industry sees this as a big win! Bidding has already started for placement of advertising at national monuments! One tobacco giant has agreed to provide large ashtrays around D.C. (engraved with the name of its most popular brand of course)! The Obama admistration has instructed the Dept of Interior to investigate the posibily of using advertising dollars raised on Federal Property to offset part of the national debt! Barnie Sanders has proclaimed that this is an opportunity to do something "for the common good of the 99%".
Enjoy your APRIL 1ST, everyone!
