Minnesota advocates are pushing to end the sale of flavored tobacco products in Minnesota. Beginning Monday, February 28, a coalition called the Minnesota Smoke Free Generation will launch an online week of action where youth and adults will have the opportunity to learn about the various ways to connect with lawmakers to create change.

“While our state has invested in tobacco prevention and treatment, we have raised the age of tobacco sales to 21, and we have strong clean indoor air laws, we still have work to do and bold action is needed ” said Emily Myatt, director of government relations for the American Cancer Society in Minnesota. "We call on the Legislature to stop the sale of all flavored tobacco products and remove barriers to smoking cessation treatment for Medicaid in Minnesota and Minnesota HealthCare."

On Wednesday, Myatt testified before a committee hearing on House Document 3153, which would expand our state's smoking cessation programs and initiatives, such as telephone counseling. The bill passed the 9-2 Committee and was sent to the House Health Finance and Policy Committee for a hearing.

Myatt said it was a step in the right direction in the fight against the radical industry.

"The tobacco industry knows exactly who they are targeting," she said. "They're targeting kids, communities of color, LGBTQ+ people, and we're against that, so it's very important that our state does everything we can to help keep kids off tobacco."

A month ago, the Truth Initiative released a report on tobacco product imagery that is popular among 15-24 year olds. 64% of the most popular shows in 2020 featured tobacco products, the report said.

Pat McCone, senior director of the American Lung Association in Minnesota, said she experienced it firsthand.

"On Sunday night, on a very popular show I was watching, there was a popular character who was vaping," McCone said.

E-cigarettes are more of a concern due to the lack of regulation, she added.

"Teenagers are more inclined to binge-watch and watch series, and because vaping is an unregulated product, it's increased over the past few years in terms of TV commercials or product placement on these popular shows."

Social media doesn't help either. The 2017 Minnesota Youth Tobacco Survey found that 88 percent of Minnesota high school students saw an e-cigarette ad within a month.

"This puts young people at a much higher risk of becoming combustible tobacco users," McCone said. "It puts them at risk of further addiction, and it opens up pathways in the brain -- one of the last parts of our body to fully develop."

McKone urges parents to lead a conversation with their children about these products by listening.

"No one likes being taught," she said. "Ask them 'Tell me what happened? How much do you know about these devices?'"

The American Lung Association also offers these resources to help people quit smoking.

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