The Marion Board of Health is again picking up flavored tobacco products, just not literally.
After putting a flavored tobacco and nicotine ban on the back burner last year to concentrate on regulating recreational cannabis, the board is ready to pick up where it left off and ban the highly addictive flavored products from Marion.
Board of Health Chairman Jason Reynolds said on February 26 that he thinks it’s a good idea for the board to revive its efforts and draft up some regulations to stop Marion stores from selling flavored tobacco or flavored vape products to all customers, not just those under 21.
That takes care of the green apple, grape, and watermelon products with nicotine, but “menthol” flavor will be spared. The board last year changed its mind on banning menthol-flavored products, including cigarettes, and focus solely on the prior products.
The Board of Health was enthusiastic in October 2016 to join the zero other municipalities in the entire country that have succeeded in banning menthol cigarettes, but last year changed its mind. The board did not specify that its change of heart resulted from ominous letters “Big Tobacco” companies sent the board, but it did listen to a number of Marion store owners, civil rights activists, and other organizations speak against a menthol cigarette ban over several meetings in 2017.
Furthermore, the FDA announced in November 2017 that it would move forward in the process to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, allowing Marion and other local municipalities of like mind to benefit second-hand by not having to be the David against the Goliath of Big Tobacco.
Flavored tobacco will appear on the board’s next meeting agenda.
Also during the February 26 meeting, Health Agent Karen Walega said, according to federal records on tobacco sales compliance check, Marion has zero no-compliance citations.
“I thought that was really a feather in our cap, I think,” Walega said.
The next meeting of the Marion Board of Health is scheduled for March 12 at 4:30 pm at the Marion Town House.
Marion Board of Health
By Jean Perry