Ahead of 2022 Session, Group Asking for Statewide Restrictions on Flavored Tobacco

(KNSI) — More than 20 Minnesota cities now have ordinances in place restricting or banning the sale of flavored tobacco products, and at least one group hopes for a statewide ban during this year’s session.

President of the Association for Nonsmokers – Minnesota Jeanne Weigum praised the federal government for cracking down on flavored tobacco products like menthol; she says more needs to be done to curb youth access.

“You don’t find some 50-year-old guy going out and buying ‘Unicorn Juice’ to vape. That’s not the target audience.”

Weigum says more and more cities are enacting bans, so she feels there’s enough demand for a ban at the state level, adding, “I guess the questions comes up, ‘Are we at critical mass on these issues?’ And, I’d like to say we are, but there are many communities across the state where there have not been these discussions.”

The association says other barriers in 2022 include a shorter session at the State Capitol and an election year for state lawmakers. Growing calls for tighter restrictions follow the 2020 Minnesota Youth Tobacco Survey. The report’s authors found an 80% increase in frequent vaping among respondents compared to 2017.

Last year, the state enacted Tobacco 21, raising the age to buy tobacco and other smoking products to 21 to keep them out of the hands of teens.

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