Bill to Ban Flavored Tobacco Moves in Senate

March 2, 2023

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee heard SF 2123 (Champion, DFL – Minneapolis), a bill to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products and favored vaping products in Minnesota. The bill is supported by Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation (MSFG), a coalition with which the MMA is a member.

MSFG coalition member Sylvia Amos from the Association of Nonsmokers-Minnesota testified in favor of the bill. “Ending the sale of menthol cigarettes and all flavored products is an important public health and racial justice issue that will save lives, reduce health disparities, and protect kids.” stated Amos. “Flavored products may mask the harshness of tobacco, but they are just as additive and harmful as nonflavored tobacco products,” continued Amos.

Before voting for the bill, Sen. Kelly Morrison, MD (DFL – Deephaven), argued that “the cost of tobacco and nicotine products to society, families, and communities is undeniable. The fact that the (tobacco) industry has specifically targeted communities of color, low-income communities, the LGBTQ+ community, and kids is also undeniable. We need to move forward to protect public health. As a physician, I feel very strongly about this.”

According to data from the Minnesota Department of Health, one in seven 11th  graders in Minnesota use e-cigarettes, and 88 percent of those students use flavored e-cigarettes. Furthermore, over 70 percent of youth e-cigarette users in Minnesota show signs of nicotine dependence. This can set a child on a trajectory for severe health problems later in life related to smoking and tobacco use.

The bill passed and was referred to the State and Local Government and Veterans Committee.