Detroit City Council Urges Ban on Tobacco Flavors

On May 10th, the Detroit City Council in Michigan urged the state legislature to end the sale of flavored tobacco products and allow local tobacco laws to be overseen by the city government.

Detroit City Council member Scott Benson has proposed the elimination of section 14 of the current Tobacco Products Tax Law to strengthen local control over issuing tobacco distribution licenses. Benson believes that flavored products such as e-cigarettes are targeted towards African American and young people in Detroit.

On May 9th, a proposal was put forth for approval by council members, urging the Michigan state to ban flavored tobacco. According to the resolution, stopping the sale of flavored tobacco would "significantly reduce new generations of tobacco users and lower healthcare costs.

Latisha Johnson, a female lawmaker, has expressed concerns regarding the continuous increase in asthma rates in Detroit and the negative impact of other environmental factors on the respiratory health of its residents.

I do believe that these flavors are appealing to our youth and encouraging them to use these electronic cigarettes specifically.

According to reports, the City Council of Ferndale, Michigan in the United States has passed a new law which prohibits the sale and use of electronic cigarettes to minors. Those who sell e-cigarette products to individuals under the age of 21 may face misdemeanor charges. The law will go into effect on April 30th.

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The Detroit City Council is urging the state of Michigan to grant more autonomy to cities in controlling tobacco sales and ban flavored products.