THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, December 13, 2024 Page 3 Sen. Lewis and Reps. Lipper-Garabedian and Vitolo announce bill to phase out the sale of nicotine and tobacco products (Photos Courtesy of Office of Senator Lewis) S tate Senator Jason Lewis and State Representatives Kate Lipper-Garabedian and Tommy Vitolo announced that they will be filing a bill in the 2025-26 legislative session to generationally phase out the legal sale of all nicotine and tobacco products in Massachusetts. This would replace the current age-based eligibility system with a requirement to be born before a specific date. The Massachusetts Legislature banned the sale of all flavored tobacco products in 2019, in part to reduce youth interest in nicotine and tobacco products. This bill would go further by gradually phasing out all sales of nicotine and tobacco products. Nicotine and tobacco products are highly addictive, and the use of these products increases the risk of lung cancer, heart disease, stroke and other illnesses. Hundreds of thousands of Americans die from smoking-attributable causes each year, and smoking continues to be the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States. The staggering economic cost of smoking in the country is an estimated $300 billion annually through a combination of healthcare costs and loss of productivity, straining the healthcare system and the economy as a whole. While nicotine use by youngsters is decreasing, 2.25 million middle and high school students reported current use of tobacco products in 2024, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease 10 adults who smoke daily first tried smoking by age 18. This bill would not take away Control and Prevention (CDC). Restricting their access to nicotine and tobacco products is critical to reducing overall usage and preventing the next generation from becoming addicted to these products. Roughly nine in the right to purchase nicotine and tobacco products from anyone who is already legally able to do so. Should this bill be signed into law, young people who are not currently old BILL | SEE PAGE 7 RON’S OIL Call For PRICE MELROSE, MA 02176 NEW CUSTOMER’S WELCOME ACCEPTING VISA, MASTERCARD & DISCOVER (781) 397-1930 OR (781) 662-8884 100 GALLON MINIMUM
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