Press Releases

ADVISORY: Supporters to Call for Immediate Action on Tobacco 21

WHAT

Tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. in the State Capitol, chief authors Senator Carla Nelson and Representative Heather Edelson and other supporters will call for the legislature to pass Tobacco 21 before session ends on May 20.

Minnesota can do more to protect youth from commercial tobacco, especially as the nation faces an epidemic of youth nicotine addiction. Raising the tobacco sale age to 21 will help reduce youth smoking and save lives. To date, 12 states and more than 450 cities and counties across the country, including 32 in Minnesota have adopted Tobacco 21 policies. The National Academy of Medicine estimates that Tobacco 21 would reduce smoking among 15-to-17-year-olds by 25 percent.

WHEN

TOMORROW
Friday, May 10, 2019
9:30 a.m.

WHERE

B 971 State Capitol – Press Conference Room

WHO

Sen. Carla Nelson (R-Rochester) – chief Senate author
Rep. Heather Edelson (DFL-Edina) – chief House author
Youth advocates Hannah Rausch and Anna Grace Hottinger
Dr. Pete Dehnel – physician
Representatives from the Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation coalition

FOLLOW

@smokefreegenMN, @ClearWayMN

MORE INFO

Tobacco 21 fact sheet

About Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation

Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation is a coalition of more than 60 organizations that share a common goal of saving Minnesota youth from a lifetime of addiction to tobacco. The coalition supports policies that reduce youth smoking and nicotine addiction, including increasing tobacco prices, raising the tobacco sale age to 21, limiting access to candy-, fruit- and menthol-flavored tobacco, and funding tobacco prevention and cessation programs.

Partners include: A Healthier Southwest, African American Leadership Forum, Allina Health, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association in Minnesota, Apple Tree Dental, Association for Nonsmokers – Minnesota, Aurora/St. Anthony Neighborhood Corporation, Becker County Energize, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, CentraCare Health, Children’s Defense Fund-Minnesota, Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, ClearWay Minnesota^SM,  Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio – CLUES, Dodge County Public Health, Essentia Health, Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, HealthEast, HealthPartners, Hennepin Healthcare, Hope Dental Clinic, Horizon Public Health, Indigenous Peoples Task Force, ISAIAH, JustUs Health, LAAMPP Alumni, Lake Region Healthcare, Lincoln Park Children and Families Collaborative, Local Public Health Association of Minnesota, March of Dimes, Mayo Clinic, Medica, Meeker McLeod Sibley Community Health Services, Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians, Minnesota Cancer Alliance, Minnesota Council of Health Plans, Minnesota Hospital Association, Minnesota Medical Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, Minnesota Oral Health Coalition, Minnesota Public Health Association, MN Association of Community Health Centers, MN Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Model Cities of St. Paul, Inc., NAMI Minnesota, North Memorial Health Care, NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center, Olmsted Medical Center, PartnerSHIP 4 Health, Perham Health, Preventing Tobacco Addiction Foundation, SEIU Healthcare Minnesota, Shift MN, St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, Steele County Public Health, Tobacco Free Alliance, Twin Cities Medical Society, UCare, Vision In Living Life “Change is Possible”,  WellShare International and Zumbro Valley Medical Society. Find out more at: smokefreegenmn.org.