[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 135 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO BUSINESSES IN MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA THAT DO NOT SELL 
                            TOBACCO PRODUCTS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 7, 2006

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the businesses in 
Marin County, California, that have stopped selling tobacco products in 
order to protect the health of the public.
  Recently, I attended an event with the American Heart Association at 
Mollie Stone's Market in Greenbrae to officially announce the removal 
of all tobacco products in their Bay Area stores, including two in 
Marin County. At that time, Michael Stone, cofounder Mollie Stone's, 
said, ``I don't think there's been a company our size taking this 
proactive action . . . we did it for health reasons for the 
community.'' The American Heart Association described this as ``an 
aggressive, positive approach to help stop the spread of smoking.''
  Larry Meredith, Director of Marin County Health and Human Services, 
added, ``Tobacco is the No. 1 cause of preventable death in the United 
States today . . . The decision by Mollie Stone's to go tobacco free is 
another jewel given to the community.'' A survey by this department 
found that other stores are considering the same move, citing concerns 
for general public health and youth smoking. Two years ago when United 
Markets, a small Marin independent chain, pulled their tobacco 
products, coowner Bill Daniels announced that ``it's just the right 
thing to do.''
  Other Marin County stores that have decided it's the right thing to 
do are: AG Ferrari Foods, Golden Gate Pharmacy, Golden Point Produce/
Tomales Bay Foods, Good Earth Natural Foods, Cornucopia Gourmet Deli, 
Elephant Pharmacy, Jack's Drug Store, Kaiser, Marin Medical Pharmacy, 
Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy, Paradise Foods, Peoples Market, Pueblo 
Latino Market, Olema Liquor and Deli, Ross Valley Pharmacy, Royal Coach 
Car Wash, Target, Trader Joe's, Western Sport Shop, and Whole Foods.
  The County of Marin is also setting an example in protecting public 
health. For example, with funding from a tobacco settlement agreement, 
the Department of Health and Human Services has developed a program to 
crack down on illegal sales of tobacco products to minors, and the 
Board of Supervisors recently passed an ordinance expanding smoking 
bans to outdoor public gathering spaces such as parks and ATM lines.
  Mr. Speaker, we all know that smoking is a major cause of diseases 
that are hurting public health, straining our medical system, and 
putting millions of individuals at risk. I commend these businesses and 
the County of Marin for their courage and foresight in responding to 
this threat by limiting tobacco use and availability, and I honor all 
businesses that add their names to this growing list.

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