Pentagon Considers Military Smoking Ban
Dena Richardson/KFOX News Reporter
Posted: 6:15 pm MDT July 12, 2009Updated: 8:46 pm MDT July 12, 2009
EL PASO, Texas -- The Pentagon is considering a full ban on tobacco in the military following the findings of a recent report by the Institute of Medicine.
The report found tobacco use costs the Pentagon nearly $850 million a year in medical care and lost productivity costs. And according to the report, tobacco use impairs military readiness. So the Institute of Medicine recommends prohibiting anyone in uniform from using tobacco and stopping the sale of those products on military bases.
But some El Pasoans do not agree with the proposed ban.
"Our soldiers are giving their lives out there to protect our freedoms," said George Barraza, of northeast El Paso. "And we're trying to take one of their basic freedoms from them, which is their choice to smoke or not to smoke."
According to the report, about one-third of all active military personnel smoke, and troops often rely on cigarettes as a stress reliever.
"During the war in Vietnam, the government used to supply them with marijuana," said Marcia LeGendle, of Chaparral. "Why can't they have a legalized substance?"
Profits from tobacco sales on base, up to $90 million, pays for a majority of military recreation and family support programs.
The report recommendation calls for the full ban to be in effect within 20 years.
Why can't they just let our soldiers be happy for once??? lol...sad...too sad...BTW,..(I'm a non-smoker) :rockin:
Dena Richardson/KFOX News Reporter
Posted: 6:15 pm MDT July 12, 2009Updated: 8:46 pm MDT July 12, 2009
EL PASO, Texas -- The Pentagon is considering a full ban on tobacco in the military following the findings of a recent report by the Institute of Medicine.
The report found tobacco use costs the Pentagon nearly $850 million a year in medical care and lost productivity costs. And according to the report, tobacco use impairs military readiness. So the Institute of Medicine recommends prohibiting anyone in uniform from using tobacco and stopping the sale of those products on military bases.
But some El Pasoans do not agree with the proposed ban.
"Our soldiers are giving their lives out there to protect our freedoms," said George Barraza, of northeast El Paso. "And we're trying to take one of their basic freedoms from them, which is their choice to smoke or not to smoke."
According to the report, about one-third of all active military personnel smoke, and troops often rely on cigarettes as a stress reliever.
"During the war in Vietnam, the government used to supply them with marijuana," said Marcia LeGendle, of Chaparral. "Why can't they have a legalized substance?"
Profits from tobacco sales on base, up to $90 million, pays for a majority of military recreation and family support programs.
The report recommendation calls for the full ban to be in effect within 20 years.
Copyright 2009 by KFOXTV.com
Why can't they just let our soldiers be happy for once??? lol...sad...too sad...BTW,..(I'm a non-smoker) :rockin:
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