The 90-day implementation period is up, and as of Monday, Midland County will be smoke-free.

The Midland County Clean Air Regulation was approved by the Midland County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 17.

Since then, the Midland County Tobacco Reduction Coalition, in partnership with the Midland County Health Department and Midland Community Cancer Services, has been educating — contacting business owners, airing television programs on MCTV and answering questions.

Starting Monday, the smoking regulation eliminates smoking in all public and private worksites, including business vehicles, and in all public places except bars, restaurants and tobacco specialty stores. Home-based businesses also are excluded, unless they are a day care or adult care facility.

As a non-smoker, Matt McGlinchey, who works in the receiving department at Sears at Midland Mall thinks the regulation is a good idea. “I don’t like smoke,” he said.

The idea is to give non-smokers the right to clean-air. At businesses and public places that once allowed smoke, they sometimes had no choice but to breathe second-hand smoke.

Source: Ourmidland