Massachusetts: First US State to End Sale of All Flavored Tobacco Products

A Massachusetts statewide ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes, went into effect Monday, May 1^er June 2020. Massachusetts became the first state in the United States to approve such a measure when Republican Governor Charlie Baker signed the bill in November. Three other states - New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island[1] - have meanwhile put an end to the sale of flavored electronic cigarettes.

The law applies to the sale of all flavored tobacco and e-cigarette products (cigarettes, cigars, tobacco, hookah, smokeless tobacco) in retail stores in the state as well as online sales. Massachusetts law only prohibits the sale of flavored tobacco products and penalizes retailers who sell these products. It does not prohibit anyone from purchasing, possessing, or using flavored products.

This legislation at the local level is likely to lead other states and even the country at the federal level to adopt it. The issue associated with this provision is that of the tobacco industry targeting young people and certain communities.

This is especially true for menthol flavoring. For decades, the tobacco industry has targeted children, African Americans, and other communities, and the health consequences have been significant. Today, more than half of all youth smokers in the country use menthol products. That number rises to 70 to 85% among African American smokers. Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death for this community.[2].

The new law also limits the places where the sale of products to smoking bars is permitted. This applies in particular to cigar bars and hookah lounges, where these products are consumed on site.

The law also imposes a $75% excise tax on vaping products containing nicotine. Finally, it gives public health officials new powers to regulate the products and requires health insurers to cover smoking cessation aids.

Source of the article (in English)

©Generation Without Tobacco

[1] https://www.generationsanstabac.org/actualites/mesures-en-faveur-de-la-sante-publique-dans-est-des-usa-cigarettes-electroniques/

[2] https://www.generationsanstabac.org/article/strategie-cigarettiers-menthol-interdiction-mai-2020/

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