California Bans Smoking In Prison

Not as a form of punishment; just to make all those prisoners healthier.

Guards are banned from smoking too:

The California Department of Corrections (search) has banned cigarette smoking indoors and outdoors for both inmates and employees. The Department of Corrections hopes this move will cut health care costs by hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

"It just helps reduce the risk of secondhand smoking, helps reduce the risk of tobacco illness not just for employees, but for inmates as well," said Lt. Ken Lewis (search), spokesman for the California State Prison, Los Angeles County.

Gee, if they can't control drugs and weapons in prison, won't it be hard to stop smoking?

But the ban may not get rid of all tobacco products in California prisons. A black market for chewing tobacco has already emerged. Tins that normally cost $11 can run as much as $200 on the cellblock.

Oh.

No doubt, smoking is bad for your and a nasty, stinky habit.

But this Fascism of Health and Niceness is getting out of hand.

Thanks to NickS.

posted by Ace at 01:00 PM

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