Bill Prohibits Purchasing Tobacco Products for Minors

Last week, the WI State Assembly passed Assembly Bill 93 on a voice vote. Under the legislation, individuals are statutorily prohibited from purchasing or providing tobacco products for minors. Under a substitute amendment that was also approved, the legislation is expanded to include all “nicotine products,” which are defined as any product that contains nicotine and is not a cigarette, a tobacco product or a product approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a smoking cessation product. The bill will now be considered in the Senate. More information on the bill and the substitute amendment is available in the Legislative Council memo.

Thank you Assembly members for passing a very important piece of legislation. Let's hope the Senate can make the same decision so WI can make it easier to keep ALL tobacco products out of the hands of minors.

Smoking Symposium Scheduled

It was announced that the Caron Foundation's Student Assistance Program is hosting the "Adolescent Smoking Prevention and Cessation Symposium" in Nashville, Tennessee later this year.

This event is funded by Philip Morris USA, US Smokeless Tobacco and John Middleton Company, which are all owned by Altria. You should all recognize the Middleton name, they manufacture cigars and pipe tobacco that have fruit and alcohol flavors. Together these companies produce the most popular brands of tobacco products amongst youth. In fact, Marlboro cigarettes are the most popular brand according to American High School students.

Clearly, the invested interest for these companies is insuring youth continue to use their products, NOT is prevention and cessation. Its bad enough that 9 out 10 smokers started smoking before they were eighteen (18).

The agenda shows no recognized experts in youth prevention/cessation, nor are nay legitimate tobacco control organizations involved. In fact two of the scheduled presentations are from other Altria- funded organizations.

So, is this just another attempt to "polish" the image of Altria? It would appear so, what a sad attempt...........