Miss Teen Minnesota Jenna O’Rourke speaks against tobacco use
Miss Teen Minnesota Jenna O’Rourke took the Capitol rotunda podium today (Wednesday, April 14) and admitted she was fed up.
“I’m tired of being targeted,” said O’Rourke of tobacco industry marketing geared towards young people. “All tobacco products are poison and highly addictive,” said the Rosemount High School junior and Cancer Society volunteer.
Miss Teen Minnesota Jenna O’Rourke, a Rosemount HIgh School junior, was one of the featured speakers at a Capitol rally today (Wednesday, April 14) calling for stricter laws in Minnesota regulating tobacco. Supporters argue tobacco companies are packaging tobacco products as to appeal to children and are skirting state laws with these new product lines.
“I want my generation the first generation not addicted to tobacco,” said O’Rourke, heralding a new legislative initiative.
O’Rourke, legislators, and volunteers were lobbing for The Tobacco Modernization and Compliance Act of 2010, legislation supporters argue is needed because of the tobacco industry’s habit of “creeping” around state laws through new product development.
Sold next to real candy
Activists point to tobacco laced-laced sticks, strips and other products that look like breath-fresheners or candy as evidence of youth-oriented tobacco marketing — products that can be sold next to real candy, they say.
Additionally, supporters argue “little cigars” are actually cigarettes and legally should be considered such — subject to the laws regulating cigarette sales and taxation.
The bill would also prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes to youths. These are battery-powered products that deliver puffs of nicotine vapor to the user.
“Keeping up with the tobacco industry is a 24/7 challenge. And that’s what we’re trying to do,” said Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, Senate bill author.
Advocates displayed the newer tobacco products they find particularly objectionable on a table in the Capitol rotunda.
The candy-like products the tobacco industry is marketing should be “alarming,” he said.
Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, Senate health committee chairman, was upbeat about the chances of the legisaltion becoming law.
One activist donned a cigarette costume suggesting cigarettes have a sense of self-loathing.
“We’re going to pass it this year,” he said.
The legislation is expected to receive a hearing tomorrow in the Senate tax committee.
O’Rourke argued that tobacco products have one unique characteristic.
“They are the only product intended to kill the consumer,” she said.
by T.W. Budig, Hometownsource