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PORTLAND, Maine — The Portland City Council voted Monday night to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products.
NEWS CENTER Maine's Sean Stackhouse observed the virtual meeting and reported the vote was unanimous, 9-0.
"Our kids are vulnerable, so this is just one of the many tools that we use to create a better public health outcome for everyone," Portland City Councilor Tae Chong said during Monday's meeting.
The Council's vote came after more than two hours of public comment on the proposed ordinance. While many spoke about the public health concerns connected to smoking and vaping, those opposed to the ban argued it wouldn't stop youth smoking, as those currently using products would travel to nearby communities in order to obtain tobacco products.
#Breaking the Portland City Council has voted unanimously to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products in the city. We'll have the latest on this decision tonight on @newscentermaine
According to a Maine Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Education survey from 2019, more than one in four Maine high school students use e-cigarettes.
"The tobacco industry can't sink their teeth into a new generation of smokers, by banning flavored tobacco products in our city," BJ McCollister, campaign manager for Flavors Hook Kids Maine, said. "The flavors are designed to mask the harsh flavor of nicotine to get people hooked."
The ban targets more than just flavored e-cigarettes, though. It includes all flavored tobacco products, including menthol, for cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, and smokeless tobacco.
Portland City Councilor Roberto Rodriguez said during the meeting that he began smoking cigarettes at a young age, and believe advertisements were targeted towards individuals like [him]. Rodriguez said he hopes his vote can "create an environment in our city where we improve those conditions for our children, and we limit the risk we're putting our communities at."
The ban will go into effect on June 1, the same day as the City of Bangor's flavored tobacco ban is set to begin.
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