Because the city recognizes that sale of licensed products to persons under the age of 21 violates both state and federal law and because studies, which the city hereby accepts and adopts, have shown that most smokers begin smoking before they have reached the age of 18 years, and that almost no one starts smoking after age 25; and because marketing analysis, public health research, and commercial tobacco industry documents reveal that tobacco companies have used menthol, mint, fruit, candy, and flavors as a way to target youth and young adults and that the presence of such flavors can make it more difficult to quit; and because smoking has been shown to be the cause of several serious health problems which subsequently place a financial burden on all levels of government; this chapter shall be intended to regulate the sale, possession and use of licensed products for the purpose of enforcing and furthering existing laws, to protect youth and young adults against the serious effects associated with the illegal use of licensed products, and to further the official public policy of the state in regard to preventing young people from starting to smoke as stated in M.S. § 144.391, as it may be amended from time to time.
(Am. Ord. 720, passed 1-3-2013; Am. Ord. 823, passed 11-21-2023)