Spring Break
City Council considers tobacco bills
Peter Sicher
Issue date: 10/8/09
On October 5, the Baltimore City Council moved two tobacco-related bills a step closer toward passage into law.
One bill would ban the sale of flavored wrapping paper for tobacco products, while the other would ban the sale of individual cigars.
The Institute for Global Tobacco Control (IGTC) at the Bloomberg School of Public Health helped collect some of the data that led to the creation of the bills, according to Doctor Frances Stillman, co-director of the IGTC.
"What we see in inner city African American populations is high rates of smoking. They don't smoke many cigarettes or cigars a day, so these individual cigarettes and cigars is a good way for them to get their nicotine dose," Stillman said.
"The flavored paper is especially attractive to youths and young adults, making it more appealing for kids to starts and young adults to keep smoking."
"Both [bills] are trying to wean youths from being enticed into smoking and flavored tobacco is trying to entice kids to smoke and kids can afford to buy individual cigarettes and cigars better than a pack," said city councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke, who represents Hopkins's district and who co-sponsored both bills.
"I do think it is a good idea to stop young people from smoking because if you start young you're committed for life. That's why the tobacco companies market to young people," said Sarah Durica, President of Hopkins Kicks Butts, an anti-tobacco student group.
"The bills don't extend far enough. They neglect other flavored tobacco products that appeal to young people. People are not aware of the dangers of hookah," said Phoebe Campbell, a member of Hopkins Kicks Butts.
The flavored-wrapping-paper bill will be considered for final passage by the city council on October 19.
The bill defines flavored wrapping paper as, "any cigarette rolling paper or tobacco wrapping leaf that is...impregnated or scented with or aged or dipped in alcoholic liquor, chocolate, fruit flavoring, vanilla, honey, or any other flavoring agent."
One bill would ban the sale of flavored wrapping paper for tobacco products, while the other would ban the sale of individual cigars.
The Institute for Global Tobacco Control (IGTC) at the Bloomberg School of Public Health helped collect some of the data that led to the creation of the bills, according to Doctor Frances Stillman, co-director of the IGTC.
"What we see in inner city African American populations is high rates of smoking. They don't smoke many cigarettes or cigars a day, so these individual cigarettes and cigars is a good way for them to get their nicotine dose," Stillman said.
"The flavored paper is especially attractive to youths and young adults, making it more appealing for kids to starts and young adults to keep smoking."
"Both [bills] are trying to wean youths from being enticed into smoking and flavored tobacco is trying to entice kids to smoke and kids can afford to buy individual cigarettes and cigars better than a pack," said city councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke, who represents Hopkins's district and who co-sponsored both bills.
"I do think it is a good idea to stop young people from smoking because if you start young you're committed for life. That's why the tobacco companies market to young people," said Sarah Durica, President of Hopkins Kicks Butts, an anti-tobacco student group.
"The bills don't extend far enough. They neglect other flavored tobacco products that appeal to young people. People are not aware of the dangers of hookah," said Phoebe Campbell, a member of Hopkins Kicks Butts.
The flavored-wrapping-paper bill will be considered for final passage by the city council on October 19.
The bill defines flavored wrapping paper as, "any cigarette rolling paper or tobacco wrapping leaf that is...impregnated or scented with or aged or dipped in alcoholic liquor, chocolate, fruit flavoring, vanilla, honey, or any other flavoring agent."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Alex W.
posted 10/12/09 @ 7:47 AM EST
While I have no trouble with legislation to reduce the marketing of tobacco to kids, the "single cigar" provision makes me go "What the ...?"
Cigar smokers are a tiny minority even among tobacco users, and the number of kids smoking cigars is tiny to the point of statistical irrelevance. (Continued…)
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