The June 7, 2009, Tribune had a sickening picture on the front page — a female smoking a cigarette that wasn’t a cigarette, it was an electronic smoking device. It didn’t break the state smoking ban because it didn’t have carcinogens that contain nicotine.

All of the no-smoking signs I have seen do not spell out what a person can or cannot smoke. They just say “no smoking,” period. Who is going to police what is in these electronic smoking devices? I will not patronize any business that allows them. I do not belong to any clubs, but I do go to a lot of pancake breakfasts. Anyone smoking that device will not be welcome in my house or in my church.

For some time, the smoking of medical marijuana has made the news. There are some who think the laws should allow terminally ill patients to smoke it.

If Grandma is dying from cancer and you want to bring her to your home to take care of her, would want her smelling up your house marijuana smoke? If you had children in your home, would you worry that perhaps one of them might be tempted to sneak a cigarette? Would a hospice volunteer come into your home if it stunk like marijuana? Hospice should make a ruling that their volunteers do not have to visit patients who use marijuana. Our hospitals and nursing homes should not allow patients to use it. Their employees deserve better than that. There are numerous painkillers available.

Roger Fink

Albert Lea