Amid concerns about the breadth of the measure and its possible impact on gaming revenue, the president of the Navajo Nation has vetoed a legislatively approved ban on tobacco use in public buildings and shared public air spaces, the Associated Press reported Aug. 8.

The Navajo Nation Council in July had approved the ban, which was designed not to apply to tobacco used in Native American traditional or religious ceremonies on the Navajo reservation. But Tribal President Joe Shirley Jr. said the action didn't focus strongly enough on the problem of youth smoking, and also had unclear implications for religious practices.

Shirley stated in his veto message that the measure was "unreasonably broad, unenforceable, provides no administrative appeal process, puts the nation at a competitive disadvantage and fails to address the real problem on the Navajo Nation of underage smoking."

Concerns about the impact of a public tobacco ban had focused largely on whether it would create a marketing disadvantage for the Fire Rock Casino, scheduled to become the Navajo tribe's first casino later this year.

The American Cancer Society and other backers of the ban have said they want to work with the Navajo Nation Council to push for an override of the veto. Shirley said he wants to work with lawmakers to develop a law that combats underage smoking without compromising casino revenue or causing uncertain effects on religious ceremonies.