Smoke Less Ohio

This article is part of the Center for Media & Democracy's spotlight on front groups and corporate spin.

Smoke Less Ohio is a front group created by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company to campaign against proposed measures to restrict tobacco consumption. [1]

Shelly Kiser, a spokeswoman for SmokeFreeOhio, told Associated Press that "the tobacco industry has fought us every step of the way. They have taken out more than 30 lawsuits against us... It's been horrible." [2]

The groups web domain was, according to joker.com, registered on January 18, 2006 by Strategic Public Partners, a Ohio-headquartered PR and lobbying firm. [3] Michael Komaschka from SPP is a registerd lobbyist for RJR. [4]

Personnel

• Jacob Evans

Coalition members

• Bowling Centers Association of Ohio
• Cigar Association of America
• Lorillard Tobacco Company
• National Association of Tobacco Outlets, Inc.
• Ohio Academy of Nursing Homes
• Ohio Coin Machine Association
• Ohio Council of Retail Merchants
• Ohio Grocers Association
• The Ohio Licensed Beverage Association
• Ohio Petroleum Council
• Ohio Restaurant Association
• Ohio Wholesale Marketers Association
• Retail Tobacco Dealers Association
• R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
• Swedish Match
• Swisher International

Contact details

Smoke Less Ohio
88 E. Broad St., Ste. 1320
Columbus, OH 43215
Email: info AT smokelessohio.org
Web: http://www.smokelessohio.com/index.htm

Other SourceWatch Resources

• Non-Smoker Protection Committee
• Tobacco industry

External Links

• Steve Hartsoe, "Firm tries to snuff out smoking bans: Cigarette maker Reynolds American plans to spend $40 million to fight anti-tobacco measures on Nov. ballots", The Detroit News, July 28, 2006.

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