America's smokiest cities

Today most people have heard the statement "secondhand smoke kills." According to a California EPA Report, we now know that 53,800 people die every year from secondhand smoke exposure.

Still many cities still have little or no smoke-free regulations and workers and patrons of restaurants and bars are exposed to secondhand smoke everyday across the U.S.

Where you might ask? From the help of Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights, here's a list of some of the most smoker friendly cities in America.

Memphis, TN

Boasting one of the highest smoking rates in the country, and no smoke-free law, the bar workers and musicians in Memphis are breathing it all in. Tennessee state law offers next to no smoke-free protection for those workers. Tennessee state law forbids localities from passing a stronger 100 percent smoke-free law.

Branson, MO

Several communities in Missouri have passed 100 percent smoke-free laws, but Branson, the country music entertainment capital of the state, hasn't done so, leaving many workers and tourists exposed to toxic secondhand smoke.

Plus, the adult smoking rate here (Taney County) is around 40 percent, one of the very highest in the U.S.

Las Vegas, NV

"What happens in Vegas, stays in your lungs."

In 2006, voters passed a partial smoke-free initiative that covers some venues - like grocery stores, but it's still fair game in the thousands of casinos that has made the town famous.

The smoking rate in Vegas is one of the 10 highest nationwide.

Tulsa, OK

Tulsa has one of the highest smoking rates in the country at 25 percent. The laws may have something to do with it.

A weak statewide law, no local law, and a high smoking rate puts Tulsa in the top 10.

Indianapolis, IN

The city council has passed on several opportunities over the past three years to pass a strong 100 percent smoke-free law. Indianapolis is one of the very last large cities in the US without smoke-free bars.

Atlanta, GA

While there is a state law in Georgia preventing smoking in the workplace and most restaurants it has enough loop holes that no place is really 100 percent smoke-free.

Plus, Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport is one of the last U.S. airports that still has indoor smoking.

Richmond, VA

Virginia passed a state law in 2006 that banned smoking in public buildings and vehicles. Three years later, they went after schools, hospitals and public daycare centers, but restaurants can still offer ventilated smoking rooms.

The new law still exempts many workplaces and if localities want to make stiffer rules, forget it. That's against state law.

Note: Even North Carolina, which grows even more tobacco than Virginia, now has smoke-free restaurants and bars - like 64 percent of the U.S.

Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma City doesn't have any smoke-free laws at the local level, and nothing strong at the state level. Smoking rates here are above 22 percent.

Montgomery and Birmingham, AL

Neither of these cities has a strong smoke-free workplace law.

Lubbock, TX

Surrounded by other Texas cities with strong smoke-free laws, Lubbock officials have stayed behind the curve and refused to clear the air for their city's workers.

Note: Austin (live music capital of the world), Dallas and Houston all have strong smoke-free indoor air laws. San Antonio recently passed a strong law and it takes effect August 2011.