Smoking Ban May Be Revised To Add Exemption

Publication Date: 2006-04-18

• Author:Associated Press
• Publication:cbs4denver.com

Colorado's statewide smoking ban may have to be revised even before it takes effect to avoid violating American Indians' religious freedom, and that could re-ignite the contentious battle over other exemptions, lawmakers said.

House Minority Leader Mike May, the ban's chief sponsor, said an American Indian lawmaker raised concerns that the ban could prevent smoking in off-reservation religious ceremonies, such as sweat lodge rites.

"If our bill has stepped on somebody's religious freedoms, then we need to fix it," May told The Denver Post in Tuesday's editions.

The smoking ban, which takes effect July 1, was signed into law last month. If a legal review determines that it infringes on Indians' rights, adding a new exemption would require new legislation.