I support the Fight Against Efforts to Repeal or Weaken Massachusetts' Strong State and Local Tobacco Laws!
Dear Representative/Senator:
As a tobacco prevention advocate in Massachusetts, I am writing to ask that you oppose H.5271/ S.2999 An act to clarify the minimum age for the sale of adult-use products or services. H.5271 was ordered to a 3rd reading and S.2999 has been referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means.
If passed, these bills would preempt and limit the legal authority of local boards of health to create and adopt policies based on what they know is best for their communities. Preemption is a strategy used by tobacco companies to prevent meaningful local laws on tobacco control issues that protect and save lives. By preempting local tobacco prevention laws, state governments are depriving local governments of a crucial tool for reducing the burden of tobacco in their communities.
I also ask that you oppose S.2745 An Act relative to small businesses and the sale of certain cultural products filed by Senator O'Connor. This bill would exempt hookah tobacco from the flavored tobacco restriction law. Flavored tobacco products are designed to attract young people. Data from FDA’s Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health found that nearly 80 percent of youth ages 12-17 and nearly 75 percent of young adults ages 18-25 who were current tobacco users in 2014 reported that the first tobacco product they ever used was flavored. Allowing even one tobacco product type an exemption would substantially weaken the law.
Massachusetts has made tremendous public health gains in reducing tobacco and nicotine use, and these proposed bills would be a significant step backwards. I ask that you remain firm on your commitment to protecting young people from the harmful effects of addictive tobacco products.
Thank you for your support!
Sincerely,
Name/Address/Phone/Organization
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Status of this TFM priority issue
Several bills were filed that would repeal or weaken our strong state and local tobacco laws in Massachusetts.TFM opposed the following bills heard on October 20th by the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure:
- S.2745 An Act relative to small businesses and the sale of certain cultural products. This bill would exempt hookah tobacco from the flavored tobacco restriction law. This bill was reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means.
- H.5271/S.2999 An Act to clarify the minimum age for the sale and purchase of adult-use products. These bills would preempt and limit local governments’ ability to create and adopt policies based on what they know is best for their communities. H.5271 was reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling it was ordered to a 3rd reading on 4/23. S.2999 was reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means on 3/26.
- H.371 An Act relative to local boards of health and the sale of legal consumer products in the Commonwealth. This bill would preempt and limit local governments’ ability to create and adopt policies based on what they know is best for their communities. This bill was sent to study on 2/17.
S.1528 An Act to repealing the state menthol ban. This bill was sent to study on 12/04.
H.2379/S.1498 An Act relative to tobacco harm reduction. This bill would exempt some products from the flavor ban law. These bills were sent to study on 3/13 and 12/18 respectively.
H.2419 An Act relative to local boards of health and the sale of legal tobacco products in the Commonwealth. This bill would preempt local communities from passing local tobacco control ordinances. This bill was sent to study on 3/16.
We are fighting these harmful bills and are watching for others that would weaken tobacco control laws.
The tobacco industry is well-funded, tenacious, and continues to be active in Massachusetts. It works to make its products appear harmless and acceptable through pervasive marketing, maintaining a strong presence in communities, manipulating small businesses, and influencing decision-makers. We commit to monitoring tobacco industry activity and countering its actions. |
