As we speak, a man is sitting on a rooftop in West Los Angeles chilling and smoking cigarettes, walking around, and ultimately evading police. NBC Los Angeles reports that the current stand-off began after officials initiated a car chase, since the man was allegedly driving a stolen vehicle. more ›

While cigarette smoking declines dramatically in California, another method of puffing is on the rise, especially among young adults - hookah use. A study by the American Journal of Public Health released last week states that between 2005 and 2008, hookah use by California adults spiked to more than 40%. more ›

The California State Assembly approved Senate Bill 332 by Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) today. The bill empowers landlords to prohibit smoking in rental units, thus expanding the availability of smoke-free housing in California. more ›

You can't smoke on many restaurant patios, in some apartments, and in several parks and public spaces in the greater Los Angeles area, but if you are still die-hard about the habit, just a heads up that come September, your pack of cigarettes is going to have one of nine new graphic warning images approved by the U.S. Department of Health. more ›

It's not just food trucks that annoy Councilmember Tom LaBonge, but also people who dispose of their cigarette butts on the sidewalk, in the streets or wherever else they shouldn't go (and rightly so). He's been ragging on the issue for years and will even approach you if he witnesses it (once at a red light, he said he got out of his car to talk to a driver in front of him). more ›

Thirty-three states, including California, announced an agreement today with American Spirit Cigarettes that ends the company's "misleading marketing" of their organic cigarettes. "Stamping an organic label on tobacco products is ultimately a distinction without a difference--organic or not, cigarettes are bad for your health," Attorney General Jerry Brown said in a statement. "Today's settlement with [parent company] Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company ensures that all future advertisements make it clear that organic tobacco is no safer or healthier." The company has 30 days to update all advertising within 30 days to say "Organic tobacco does NOT mean safer cigarettes" and other similar statements about roll-your-own and pouch tobacco. more ›

A $1.50 tax increase to packs of cigarettes sold in California was approved today by the state's Senate Health Committee. Yesterday, a legislative budget committee approved the increase, among various other deficit related moves, all supported by Democrats, which Schwarzenegger promises to veto. It's estimate that it would provide $1.2 billion in new revenues. "A statewide poll by David Binder Research in the wake of the May 19th Special Election demonstrates that a strong majority of voters, 74%, support increasing taxes on tobacco," said a release from the bills sponsor, Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima). "Sixty-two percent of those who voted no on the Prop 1A budget measure support." 1998 was the last time packs of cigarettes were increased--back upping it by fifty-cents to the current $0.87 tax. 31 other states have a higher tobacco tax. more ›

As mentioned yesterday via blogdowntown, the Arts, Parks, Health and Aging Committee is exploring two smoking related motions today. The suggested actions will not completely ban smoking like it practically is in Calabasas, but they do further the limiting of your rights or the protection of your health, depending on how you see it. more ›

On LAist's "Contribute" page, there are three ways you can participate: submit a link, join the LAist Featured Photos group on Flickr or leave us an anonymous tip. And one reader did more just leave a tip, he submitted an entire rant. It's a good rant and it raises good questions regarding policing for sidewalk smokers, local economies and police resources: more ›