Tag: vaping

House DFL Lawmakers Announce New Comprehensive Plan to Prevent Youth Tobacco Use

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Today, House DFL lawmakers introduced a new comprehensive plan to prevent youth tobacco use.

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.

“Minnesota has been a leader at curbing youth tobacco use and access to tobacco, and we’ve seen incredible results,” said Rep. Laurie Halverson (DFL – Eagan). “Unfortunately, we’re starting to lose ground to the tobacco companies. It’s time to treat e-cigarettes like the serious health threat they are. As a parent and a legislator, I’m committed to doing all I can to keep young Minnesotans safe and healthy.” Continue reading “House DFL Lawmakers Announce New Comprehensive Plan to Prevent Youth Tobacco Use”

Vaping could be kicked outside under proposed change to Clean Indoor Air Act

Clouds of vapor scented like gummy bears and crème brulee could be exiled from indoor spaces by a bill that would exclude the use of e-cigarettes wherever smoking is already banned.

HF349, sponsored by Rep. Laurie Halverson (DFL-Eagan), would modify the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act to include “activated electronic delivery devices” used for vaping under its definitions of “smoking” and include products derived from nicotine, tobacco, marijuana, other plants, and synthetics intended for inhalation.

The bill was approved, as amended, by the House Health and Human Services Policy Division Tuesday and re-referred to the House Commerce Committee. A companion, SF349, sponsored by Sen. Carla Nelson (R-Rochester), awaits action by the Senate Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee.

View the complete February 12 article by Victoria Cooney on the Minnesota House of Representatives website here.