MARYLAND TO ADOPT TOUGH ANTI-SMOKING RULES

Maryland will institute one of the country's strictest anti-smoking laws, barring smokers from lighting up inside of bars, restaurants, hotels and office buildings. An injunction against the ban was lifted last week by the state's supreme court, allowing Governor Parris Glendening to issue the order that prohibits smoking in all indoor workplaces, except in designated rooms with direct ventilation to the outdoors, beginning March 27. "Maryland has the fourth-highest cancer death rate," said Governor Glendening. "Secondhand smoke will kill 1,000 Marylanders this year." California, Vermont and Utah are the only other states with equally comprehensive bans.