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May 15, 2000 Jacobs approves legislation banning sale of herbal cigarettes to minors
Alarmed by the promotion of herbal cigarettes as a "healthy alternative' to tobacco-based cigarettes, Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury) and the Nassau County Legislature approved legislation today that will ban the sale of herbal cigarettes to minors. Herbal cigarettes are vegetable-based cigarettes that contain no tobacco or nicotine, but are often packed with herbs such as ginseng, jasmine and catnip. Although herbal cigarettes have been promoted as a healthy alternative to tobacco-based cigarettes, the fact is they produce the same, and sometimes higher, levels of carbon monoxide than tobacco cigarettes when smoked. The bi-partisan legislation, which was approved unanimously by the legislature, amends the County's smoking law to include herbal cigarettes among the smoking products not permitted to be sold to minors. Prior to the legislation, tobacco stores were free to sell herbal cigarettes to anyone, regardless of age. "We have become very concerned by the marketing ploys that make them attractive to kids," said Jacobs. "The herbal cigarettes are marked with colorful packaging, cartoon-like characters and candy store flavors, such as cherry, chocolate, cinnamon and marshmallow." The American Cancer Society supports the legislation to keep herbal cigarettes out of the hand of minors, according to Pat Bishop-Kelly, Director of Advocacy for the American Cancer Society. "By banning the sale of herbal cigarettes to children under 18, we will be protecting their health as well as our efforts to prevent youth smoking," Presiding Officer Jacobs said. |