McDonald seeks ban on tobacco displays- in pharmacies

[hrmjustin]

Jessica Alaimo

ALBANY—Assemblyman John McDonald III has sponsored a bill that would require stores with pharmacies to keep tobacco products covered and out of view of the public.

Anti-smoking groups have been advocating a ban on pharmacy cigarette sales for years—a pharmacy being defined as any store that has one, so it would include most grocery chains.

McDonald, a Democrat, owns Marra’s Health Pharmacy in Cohoes, where he has refused to sell cigarettes for 30 years, he said. But he said he's politically opposed to simply imposing a blanket ban on a legal product.

“The way pharmacies are changing, they are more and more involved in the health care environment, and pharmacies are being asked to play a larger role.” he said.

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2014/03/8542039/mcdonald-seeks-ban-tobacco-displays