Minnesota: Students and school staff want to end flavored e-cigarettes

Students and school staff are calling on Minnesota lawmakers to end the sale of all flavored tobacco, PR Newswire reported.

Progress on a bill to end the sale of menthol and all flavored commercial tobacco products in Minnesota (SF2123/HF2177) has stalled, according to a news release. Last week, about 250 youth, parents and advocates from across the state joined Minnesotans at the Capitol for Tobacco-Free Generation Day and urged Minnesota lawmakers to stop the sale of flavored tobacco.

This is the fourth year the Capitol has enacted the Flavored Commercial Tobacco Sales Act. During the news conference, students and school staff shared how youth tobacco use, especially youth vaping, remains a huge problem in Minnesota schools.

“We’re asking lawmakers to continue to focus on one of the top health issues affecting our children: tobacco use,” said Bethlehem Yewhalawork, program manager at NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center. “Passing a comprehensive flavor policy will prevent youth addiction and improve the health of all Minnesotans.”

The 2022 Minnesota Student Survey found that more than 75 percent of Minnesota eighth and eleventh graders who used tobacco reported using flavored products.

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