On March 19, 2014, five schools in ISD 622, which covers Maplewood, Oakdale and North Saint Paul, as well as the Students Who Are Against Tobacco (SWAAT) at White Bear Lake’s South campus, particpated in Kick Butts Day events. These students engaged the student body, alerting them to the harms of tobacco and letting them know exactly how the tobacco industry targets them. Check out the ISD 622 video of students from Tartan High, North High, John Glenn Middle School, Skyview Middle School and Maplewood Middle School.

As part of its implementation of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act signed by the President in 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration today proposed a new rule that would extend the agency’s tobacco authority to cover additional tobacco products. Products that would be “deemed” to be subject to FDA regulation are those that meet the statutory definition of a tobacco product, including currently unregulated marketed products, such as electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), cigars, pipe tobacco, nicotine gels, waterpipe (or hookah) tobacco, and dissolvables not already under the FDA’s authority. The FDA currently regulates cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, roll-your-own tobacco, and smokeless tobacco. “This proposed rule is the latest step in our efforts to make the next generation tobacco-free,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Consistent with currently regulated tobacco products, under the proposed rule, makers of newly deemed tobacco products would, among other requirements: Register with the FDA and report product and ingredient listings; Only market new tobacco products after FDA review; Only make direct and implied claims of reduced risk if the FDA confirms that scientific evidence supports the claim and that marketing the product will benefit public health as a whole; and Not distribute free samples. In addition, under the proposed rule, the following provisions would apply to newly “deemed” tobacco products: Minimum age and identification restrictions to prevent sales to underage youth; Requirements to include health warnings; and Prohibition of vending machine sales, unless in a facility that never admits youth. “Tobacco remains the leading cause of death and disease in this country. This is an important moment for consumer protection and a significant proposal that if finalized as written would bring FDA oversight to many new tobacco products,” said FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D. “Science-based product regulation is a powerful form of consumer protection that can help reduce the public health burden of tobacco use on the American public, including youth.” “Tobacco-related disease and death is one of the most critical public health challenges before the FDA,” said Mitch Zeller, director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. “The proposed rule would give the FDA additional tools to protect the public health in today’s rapidly evolving tobacco marketplace, including the review of new tobacco products and their health-related claims.” The FDA proposes different compliance dates for various provisions so that all regulated entities, including small businesses, will have adequate time to comply with the requirements of the proposed rule. Products that are marketed for therapeutic purposes will continue to be regulated as medical products under the FDA’s existing drug and device authorities in the Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act. The proposed rule will be available for public comment for 75 days. While all comments, data, research, and other information submitted to the docket will be considered, the FDA is requesting comments in certain areas, including: The FDA recognizes that different tobacco products may have the potential for varying effects on public health and is proposing two options for the categories of cigars that would be covered by this rule. The FDA specifically seeks comment on whether all cigars should be subject to deeming, and which other provisions of the proposed rule may be appropriate or not appropriate for different kinds of cigars. The FDA seeks answers to the many public health questions posed by products, such as e-cigarettes, that do not involve the burning of tobacco and inhalation of its smoke, as the agency develops an appropriate level of regulatory oversight for these products. The FDA seeks comment in this proposed rule as to how such products should be regulated. For more information: Proposed rule: Tobacco Products Deemed to be Subject to the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (Deeming) Consumer Update: Recognize Tobacco in Its Many Forms En Espanol: La FDA propone ampliar su autoridad para regular otros productos de tabaco, incluyendo los cigarros electrónicos The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.

On April 8, 2014, ANSR staff and partners had an opportunity to speak with Minnesota Legislators regarding the harms of tobacco at ClearWay’s Tobacco is Still a Problem Day at the Capitol. ANSR worked with partners from Tartan High School, Rainbow Health Initiative, the Leadership and Advocacy Institute to Advance Minnesota’s Parity for Priority Populations (LAAMPP) group, Breathe Free North (a NorthPoint program) and Vision in Living Life – Change is Possible (an Aurora/St. Anthony Neighborhood Development Corportation program). Groups met with their various state representatives and senators on two issues. Bills S.F. 2027 and H.F. 1931 incorporate e-cigarettes into the state’s Freedom to Breathe law and also updates youth access laws to regulate the sale of e-cigarettes to minors. Bills S.F. 2125 and H.F. 1966 protect foster care children from secondhand and thirdhand smoke by requiring foster care homes to be smokefree 24/7. Here’s what the youth had to say about the needed regulations:

The Ramsey Tobacco Coalition (RTC) helped pass 24/7 smoke-free foster care first in Ramsey County and then at the state level. RTC, a program of ANSR, teamed up with advocates from across the state to accomplish this. ANSR joined ClearWay Minnesota, American Lung Association (ALA), the Leadership and Advocacy Institute to Advance Minnesota’s Parity for Priority Populations (LAAMPP) program and the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) in testifying at House and Senate committee hearings. The bill for 24/7 smoke-free foster care was included in Rep. Tina Liebling and Sen. Kathy Sheran’s Health and Human Services Omnibus bills in the House and Senate, respectively. The Omnibus bill was passed by the House and Senate, ensuring protection for the many children in Minnesota  who live with foster care providers. Rep. Liebling held a preliminary hearing on the bill in the committee before the official start of the 2014 session. Rose Hauge, who joined the ANSR staff in January and is a former foster care provider, testified about her experience fostering a teenage mom and her infant.  Also testifying were ClearWay’s Molly Moilanen, LAAMPP’s Jack Ayim, ALA’s Pat McKone and Scott County’s Judith Brumfeld, representing AMC. Click here and then click Listen Now for Jan. 28, for the hearing. Testimony excerpts “It’s hard to believe foster care kids aren’t protected from secondhand smoke already.” Rep.Tina Liebling , Bill author “Minnesota is a leader for healthy kids but not children in foster care. We are behind the times. Half the U.S. states have policies. Smoke-free foster care is an overdue step in Minnesota.” Molly Moilanen, ClearWay Minnesota “It never made sense why providing a smoke-free environment wasn’t on the health and safety checklist.” Rose Hauge , former foster care provider “This is your chance to make sure every foster care child in Minnesota is protected from the dangers of secondhand smoke.” Jack Ayim , LAAMPP Fellow “In states where these policies are in place, implementation and enforcement have not been an issue.” Pat McKone, American Lung Association About this law The law now requires foster care providers to provide a smoke-free environment in their homes and in cars used to transport youth. Concerns surrounding this centered on enforcement and ensuring the availability of foster homes. “Kinship care,” which is the placement of a child in the home of extended family, was also a concern. However, the law provided provisions for those families who weren’t seeking to be foster care providers but were helping out in a time of family crisis. Minnesota became the 27th state to implement 24/7 foster care, joining Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Before the passage of the bill at the state level, nine Minnesota counties and one American Indian reservation had these policies in effect, including Dakota, Ramsey County, St. Louis, Lake, Redwood, Jackson, Steele, Beltrami and Cottonwood and Bois Forte American Indian reservation.

It’s still the wild, wild West when it comes to regulation of electronic cigarettes. The nicotine delivery devices, which operate when a battery heats liquid nicotine and flavoring, have not been regulated, but the sale and use of the devices has grown exponentially in the past year. To date, there are no regulations on the manufacture or sale of the devices. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently started the process to bring e-cigarettes under its domain. However, that process could be lengthy. Before the 2014 legislative session, Minnesota was one of just 25 states that only prohibited the sale of e-cigarettes to minors, with no other restrictions on the devices. ANSR worked with the Raise it for Health coalition, which includes ClearWay Minnesota, American Lung Association and numerous other organizations, to push for regulation of e-cigarettes during the 2014 legislative session. The coalition was successful in getting the House and Senate to enact many common sense regulations. The e-cigarette bills in the House (championed by Rep. Laurie Halverson) and in the Senate (championed by Sen. Kathy Sheran) were included in Health and Human Service Ominbus bills that were eventually passed by both bodies. While the final Omnibus bill did not include e-cigarettes in the Clean Indoor Air Act, which would have prohibited use where conventional cigarettes are prohibited, many other regulations were passed. The final bill: Requires child proof packaging on e-juice Prohibits e-cigarette use in public schools Bans the sale of e-cigarettes in mall kiosks Requires the product to be behind the counter in stores Ensures penalties for those who sell to minors Allows local governments to pass stronger regulations Prohibits use of e-cigarettes in hospitals, health care clinics and doctor’s offices Prohibits use of e-cigarettes in most government-owned buildings, including correctional facilities Prohibits use of e-cigarettes in any facility owned by the University of Minnesota or Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, including dorms Prohibits use of e-cigarettes in all licensed day car facilities, including home day care facilities during business hours

Program members, including director Damone Presley, celebrate an ordinance in Saint Paul that increases the price of cheap, flavored cigars. The Ramsey Tobacco Coalition is celebrating a huge victory!  Saint Paul is now the largest city in the state to require cigars to be sold at a minimum price of $2.10 unless sold in a pack of five.  On August 27, the City Council voted unanimously in support of the ordinance, which will make these products less appealing and accessible to young people. This work began more than a year ago when the Ramsey Tobacco Coalition conducted an assessment of cigars in the retail environment.  Cigars were being sold for as little as 50 cents. Youth members of the group Vision in Living Life – Change is Possible saw that as a problem.  They recognized that low-priced cigars were yet another tobacco industry tactic meant to target them. These products were appealing and affordable to people their age. “People my age or even younger than me can get ahold of these cigarillos for cheaper than some candy,” said Kenyan Green, a sophomore at Johnson High and Vision in Living Life member. The Ramsey Tobacco Coalition identified many possible solutions and presented them to the youth, who decided that making these products more expensive was key to reducing cigar use among their peers. The Vision in Living Life youth and other coalition partners began educating Saint Paul residents and leaders. They spoke up for a healthier, safer community.  They found that many community members supported their efforts. The youth members met with each of the councilmembers to explain how the use of these cheap cigars impacts their neighborhoods and lives. Their hard work paid off. The Saint Paul City Council showed its commitment to protecting the health and safety of its youth by enacting a strong tobacco prevention ordinance. “I am proud of the members of my youth leadership group for speaking up for a healthier and safer community,” Damone Presley, program director for Vision in Living Life – Change is Possible, said. The City Council voted unanimously to set a minimum price for single cigars at $2.10 each. All cigars in packages of less than five must be priced at $2.10 each. For example, a two-pack of cigars would cost $4.20, a three-pack would cost $6.30 and up to five. Increasing the price of tobacco is the single most effective way to prevent youth tobacco initiation. The ordinance, which puts an end to 50-cent cigars being sold in Saint Paul, will prevent many youth from starting a lifelong deadly addiction. Council member Dai Thao, sponsor of the ordinance, said during the hearing on the ordinance that it is the council’s responsibility to create a healthy community. “This issue is about the underlying problem of the tobacco companies’ intentional marketing to youth and communities of color,” Thao said. Saint Paul has joined Brooklyn Center as only the second city in Minnesota to pass this strong youth tobacco prevention ordinance. It is the largest city in the state to do so and sets the tone for the rest of the state, said Alicia Leizinger, RTC program and policy specialist. “Saint Paul has taken a strong stand against the tobacco industry’s relentless efforts to addict young people to their deadly products,” Leizinger said. “By raising the price of cheap cigars, they took an important step in breaking the cycle of addiction for the next generation. We consider this to be a big first step, but there is more to be done. “We will work with the City of Saint Paul to inform vendors of the new law. We will continue to work with council member Thao and the rest of the council to find even more ways to help prevent youth tobacco addiction.” Our partners were instrumental in advocating for this ordinance and ultimately, its passage.  We couldn’t do it without them!

Members of RTC and LAAMPP celebrate Ramsey County Commissioners’ resolution to implement 24/7 smoke-free foster care. The Ramsey Tobacco Coalition (RTC) worked with the Leadership and Advocacy Institute to Advance Minnesota’s Parity for Priority Populations (LAAMPP) program to advocate for 24/7 smoke-free foster care. RTC and LAAMPP advocates met with Ramsey County Commissioners Toni Carter, Blake Huffman, Jim McDonough, Mary Jo McGuire, Rafael Ortega and Victoria Reinhardt to discuss instituting this measure in the county. The commissioners voiced their support for protecting these youth, who are wards of the state. In March, the commission passed a resolution directing the Ramsey County Community Human Services department to implement this policy in Ramsey County.  This would provide smoke-free homes to protect the children and ensure a safe environment. About the resolution This resolution is an important part of ensuring that our state’s foster children are placed in safe and healthy homes. Data show 90 percent of children in the child welfare system have at least one chronic health condition. Exposure to secondhand smoke can aggravate these existing health conditions as well as increase the child’s risk for ear infections, asthma attacks, respiratory infections and SIDS. Every licensed foster home in Ramsey County is now expected to maintain a smoke-free environment when foster children or adolescents are in the residence. Ramsey County is the ninth county in Minnesota to protect foster children from secondhand smoke; one tribal government has enacted a similar policy. We will continue to work with Ramsey County staff on implementation of this policy, including providing cessation resources. We also look forward to seeing what state leaders do to protect Minnesota’s foster children. You can read more about the resolution in the Pioneer Press .