I was very disappointed that the Legislature didn’t take the time to debate the bill that would end the sale of flavored tobacco, especially since Maine’s rate of lung cancer is significantly higher than the national rate. There is broad support in the state to end the sale of flavored tobacco, including from parents, teachers, doctors, environmentalists, students and municipal leaders.

Given that support, why didn’t the Legislature give this bill the opportunity for the open debate that it deserves?

My father started smoking as a teen in the 1960s and only quit at the age of 62 after a heart attack. Thirteen years later, he was diagnosed with lung cancer and died the following year at 76. He was an otherwise healthy and vibrant man who could have lived many more years.

Big Tobacco aggressively marketed ots products to my dad’s generation with celebrity endorsements, and it’s marketing them to young generations now, using flavored tobacco as a gateway to lifelong tobacco use.

We need to end the sale of flavored tobacco now so we can prevent future generations from dying of preventable diseases like lung cancer. Legislators have an opportunity in the next session to improve the health of Mainers for generations to come. They can do this by openly debating the issue and taking a vote in 2025.

Morgan Hynd
Warren

Copy the Story Link

« Previous

Letter: Republicans’ shame knows no bounds

Next »

Letter: Museum decision was wrong