Ann Arbor – At their March 6th meeting, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution in support of the Protect MI Kids bill package currently moving through the Michigan Legislature. The resolution urges the Legislature to pass the legislation consisting of eight bills that address the lack of effective tobacco policies in Michigan.
The bills address various areas of concern with tobacco policies in Michigan, including repealing local preemption laws that prohibit municipalities from regulating tobacco at the local level, adding taxes to e-cigarettes and vaping products and increasing taxes on traditional tobacco products, ending the sale of flavored tobacco products including menthol-flavored cigarettes, requiring tobacco retailers to be licensed like liquor retailers, and repealing ineffective penalties’ that punish kids for tobacco purchase, use and possession.
“We have an obligation to prioritize the health of our community, and these bills do that.” Justin D. Hodge, Chair of the Board, District 5. “Polling shows 68% of Michigan voters support a comprehensive legislative package to reduce tobacco use in our state and this legislation attacks tobacco from all angles. The time is now to protect another generation of children from addiction and address the serious health equity issues that tobacco presents in our state.”
The evidence supporting the effectiveness of the bill package is compelling, especially surrounding the taxing of tobacco products. The projected benefits from a cigarette tax increase in Michigan would result in 49,400 adult smokers quitting, 14,600 youth would never start smoking, and 16,500 premature smoking deaths would be prevented.
The Washtenaw County Health Department has many great resources available for those interested in quitting tobacco or nicotine or those interested in learning more about health equity disparities. You can find more information about their work to prevent and reduce tobacco use here: Washtenaw County Board of Health Urges Preventing and Reducing Tobacco Use.
