Leading Minnesota Health Groups Support Bill to Protect Youth From New Tobacco Products
Joint statement from the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Association for Nonsmokers - MN, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, ClearWay Minnesota(SM), Local Public Health Association and HealthPartners
MINNEAPOLIS, May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Minnesota's leading health organizations urged Governor Pawlenty to sign the Tobacco Modernization and Compliance Act of 2010. The group applauds the Minnesota Senate and House of Representatives for passing this bill with overwhelming bi-partisan support and submitting it to the Governor for consideration. The Tobacco Modernization and Compliance Act of 2010 updates Minnesota laws to address new tobacco products and reduce youth access to tobacco.
"This bill is a common-sense solution to bring our laws into the 21st century and keep pace with the tobacco industry's introduction of new products," said David Willoughby, Chief Executive Officer of ClearWay Minnesota. "This is an important bill that Minnesotans support because it protects our kids from new discreet, addictive and heavily marketed tobacco products. It is a first step toward preventing youth from getting addicted to this new generation of tobacco products."
The Tobacco Modernization and Compliance Act of 2010 will:
- Expand the definition of tobacco products to include any product that contains tobacco and is intended for human consumption. This change ensures that the new dissolvable tobacco products that are candy flavored and resemble mints and breath strips are taxed and regulated as tobacco products.
- Require all tobacco products to be sold behind the counter and ensure youth do not have easy access to these products.
- Prevent the sale of new tobacco products and e-cigarettes to youth.
SOURCE ClearWay Minnesota
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