State Representative Brad Tabke (DFL-Shakopee) today joined House DFL lawmakers and high school students to announce a new comprehensive plan to prevent youth tobacco use. A fact sheet with specific details is available for download here.
In 2017, the number of young Minnesotans using tobacco rose for the first time in 17 years due to a surge in e-cigarette use. Since then, the crisis has only gotten worse. According to the 2019 Minnesota Student Survey, 26.4 percent of Minnesota 11th graders reported using an e-cigarette in the past 30 days. That represents a 54 percent increase from the 2016 survey. Usage rates also climbed among 8th and 9th graders.
“Minnesotans are asking the Legislature to hold Big Tobacco accountable for marketing their dangerous and addictive products to our kids,” said Rep. Tabke. “The comprehensive plan we announced today to prevent youth tobacco use would be among the strongest in the nation. Getting it signed into law is a priority for me in next year’s legislative session.”
Tobacco companies have used child-friendly flavors and misinformation about the safety of vaping products to market e-cigarettes to young Minnesotans, particularly those in communities of color. The comprehensive plan announced today addresses these tactics by banning flavored products and creating an Office of Youth Prevention and Protection that is dedicated to keeping children and teens safe and healthy. The new office would carry out a statewide education campaign to inform Minnesotans about the health risks associated with e-cigarette use.