SmokeFreeOhio is a campaign by the American Cancer Society in collaboration with the American Heart Association, American Lung Association, the Ohio Health Commissioners Association, the Ohio Hospital Association, the Ohio State Medical Association, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, and other supporting organizations that has created smoke-free public places and workplaces in the state of Ohio.

Read our list of supporting organizations.

All major health organizations and government agencies agree that secondhand smoke is a serious health hazard that causes cancer, heart disease, and lung disease. As researchers around the world continue to build upon the enormous amount of evidence regarding the dangers of secondhand smoke, people throughout Ohio have been calling for laws to protect them from these known dangers. Our campaign has answering these calls by creating and passing Issue 5.

SmokeFreeOhio has successfully passed a statewide clean indoor air law through a process called an "initiated statute." The campaign submitted more than 100,000 valid signatures of Ohio voters to the Secretary of State’s office on November 17, 2005 (the Great American Smokeout). The Secretary of State delivered the signatures and our comprehensive clean indoor air law to the Ohio General Assembly in January of 2006.

The legislature had four months to consider the proposal, and then we began a second round of signature gathering. On July 28, 2006, we turned in an additional 185,000 signatures. On September 7, 2006, we were qualified for the November ballot. On November 7, 2006 Issue 5 passed with the support of 2.2 million Ohioans

We believe that everyone has the right to breathe clean indoor air in public places and workplaces including offices, factories, restaurants, bars, and bowling alleys. All workers and patrons in public places deserve protection.

Read the text of the SmokeFreeOhio law.