Santa Monica Reins in Tobacco Better Than Most

Santa Monica's regulations on smoking are stricter than most, earning it an above average grade on the American Lung Association's 2012 report card.

Released Thursday, the report card gave high letter grades to cities that crack down on outdoor smoking and smoking in multi-housing complexes, and that adopt limitations on where tobacco can be sold.

Santa Monica earned a B, while nearly two-thirds of all cities in California received an F.

It nearly flunked the lung association's review of its policies related to smoke-free housing, because it only bans smoking in the common areas of condominium and apartment complexes.

The lung association gave higher grades to cities that:

• Require 75-100 percent of multi-unit housing units to be declared nonsmoking;
• Mandate each unit be designated smoking or nonsmoking;
• Declare secondhand smoke exposure a nuisance throughout the city or within a housing setting;
• Prohibit smoking within the actual units, patios and balconies of multi-unit housing units that are under the control of the city, such as low-income, senior or migrant housing.

The Santa Monica City Council , but paused after landlords objected, saying the rules would violate their tenants' privacy.

Residents also opposed, saying they felt discriminated against. Plus, a few council members said there were holes in the proposal, such as how the ban would apply to smokers of medicinal marijuana and how it would jibe with

It did, however, vote to ban smoking in new hotels; there are at least three in the pipeline that will be affected.

In 2011, 45 municipalities adopted local ordinances in at least one of the three categories that are included in the State of Tobacco Control 2012 report and raised their grades.

"Elected officials in these cities and counties showed great leadership in adopting policies to protect their residents and improve the health of their community," the report states.

The state received an F for failing to adequately fund tobacco prevention and control programs and a D for its low cigarette tax. California currently ranks 33rd among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for its 87 cent per pack tax, far below the national average of $1.46, the lung association reported in a press release.

While California earned an A for smoke-free air policies, the state received another F for poor coverage of smoking cessation and treatment services.

 The 2012 report includes grades for every city and county in California. This includes grades for all 58 counties (which cover the unincorporated areas of the county) and all 482 of the incorporated cities and towns in California.