Los Angeles, April 21, 2009 – A modest rollback of the Nevada statewide smoking ban won final approval in the state Senate by a 14-6 vote last Friday.

The measure would essentially allow smoking in locations where only adults are present and would specifically allow conventions and trade shows which deal with tobacco products to allow smoking inside the exhibition halls.

The measure now goes to the Assembly for consideration, but there is some optimism that the bill will be adopted. The voter-approved smoking ban from 2006 included exemptions for gambling floors of casinos and retail tobacconists, but eliminated the possibility of smoking at events like the Tobacco Plus Expo held at the Las Vegas Convention Center or the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association convention and trade show held at the Sands Exposition Center. That could change.

Nevada law prohibits changes by legislation in voter-adopted measures for three years, so even if the measure passes in the new several weeks, it could not be effective until December of this year.

The major impact of the bill will be a provision which allows indoor smoking in bars which serve food and at which only adults are allowed. If passed, bars which allow minors into a smoking area could face fines of up to $2,000 per day.

Courtesy CigarCylopedia

Popularity: 29% [?]