Sen. Duson proposes bill to end the sale of flavored tobacco
AUGUSTA — On Tuesday, Sen. Jill Duson, D-Portland, introduced a bill to end the sale of flavored tobacco in Maine. LD 1215, “An Act to End the Sale of Flavored Tobacco Products,” would protect the health of Maine families and prevent Maine’s youth from developing addiction to nicotine. LD 1215 was the subject of a public hearing before the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee.
“The tobacco industry targets young people under stress – kids who are already feeling disconnected, anxious and too often hopeless,” said Sen. Duson. “This includes kids who are experiencing mental health conditions, kids who identify as LGBTQIA+, kids who are from families with lower incomes, and kids who are just being kids and care about what their friends are thinking and doing. It is up to us, as lawmakers, to protect our children and families from the devastating effects of flavored tobacco use and the addiction it leads to.”
Tobacco use is linked to numerous diseases including cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Smoking also increases the risk for other serious illnesses, such as tuberculosis. For many, flavored tobacco products are the beginning of a life-long addiction. Young people start using e-cigarettes and other flavored tobacco products, which leads to an addiction to nicotine. Oftentimes, these individuals eventually move from e-cigarettes to smoking.
Tobacco companies have targeted Black communities by disproportionately advertising in Black neighborhoods. In 1950, less than 10% of Black adults smoked menthol cigarettes; today, that statistic has grown to 85% of Black adults. Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable deaths among Black Americans. Tobacco-related illnesses claim 45,000 Black lives every year.
Flavored tobacco products have been taken off the shelves in five municipalities so far: Bangor, Bar Harbor, Brunswick, Portland and South Portland. LD 1215 would expand this growing support for ending the sale of flavored tobacco to include the entire state. This legislation would add Maine to the list of states whose Legislatures have introduced legislation to end or have already ended the sale of flavored tobacco.
In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that about 70% of middle and high school students using tobacco products nationwide said they used at least one flavored tobacco product. A study conducted in 2020 found that 8 in 10 youth who currently use e-cigarettes reported using flavored tobacco products. This statistic is an increase from 2019.
LD 1215 faces further action in committee.
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