Jodi Radke
Once again, e-cigarette sellers have put their profits over kids’ health by launching a ballot initiative effort to overturn Denver’s new law ending the sale of flavored tobacco products, including flavored e-cigarettes, menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. These companies are seeking to collect signatures to put the issue on the ballot.
The Denver City Council in December voted 11-1 to approve this legislation and Mayor Mike Johnston signed it into law in order to stop tobacco and e-cigarette companies from targeting and hooking kids with flavored products. We are deeply grateful to Denver’s leaders for doing the right thing to protect kids. It is disgraceful that, rather than complying with the law, e-cigarette sellers have launched an effort to overturn it so they can keep peddling candy- and fruit-flavored products that have fueled a crisis of youth nicotine addiction.
This effort is certain to fail because of the strong public support for Denver’s new law. It was passed by a nearly unanimous City Council. It was supported by a coalition of more than 100 community organizations, including Denver Public Schools and students who bravely spoke out about the harmful impact of flavored tobacco products. And polling shows that 65% of Denver voters support ending the sale of flavored tobacco products.
This law is critically needed to end the tobacco industry’s predatory targeting of kids, Black Americans and other communities with flavored products. Flavors have driven the popularity of e-cigarettes among youth in recent years, with nearly 90% of youth users reporting using flavored products. Flavored e-cigarettes deliver massive doses of nicotine that can quickly addict kids, disrupting their lives and education. In addition, tobacco companies have long targeted Black, Latino, LGBTQ+ and other communities with menthol cigarettes, contributing to significant health disparities.
Denver’s leaders voted to protect the city’s kids and communities, and we are confident voters will uphold this decision if opponents succeed with their ballot initiative.
Jodi Radke is Director of Regional Advocacy, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
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