Supporters of a nicotine product flavor ban gathering signatures as voters hit the polls Tuesday in Maine.
The Flavors Hook Kids Maine Coalition has been at several polling places around the state claiming they want to continue putting names behind the statewide flavor ban effort as the House of Representatives considers the bill in the next legislative session.
The bill passed in the Senate this year. However, the Maine Legislature tabled a bill to end the sale of flavored tobacco products statewide last year.
They say the most recent polling shows 63 percent of Mainers strongly support a ban on flavored tobacco and vaping products.
One of their biggest goals is to reduce teen vaping and tobacco use.
”To a young person whose brain is not yet fully formed at the age of 15, 16 years old, nicotine is even more addictive because of that,” said Dan Cashman, Flavors Hook Kids Maine spokesperson. “So, the reason for getting them hooked on nicotine is to get them hooked on tobacco. It’s a pretty easy line to draw from one to the next and none of it is okay.”
It’s been a hot topic in Maine with some health advocacy groups claiming flavored vaping and other tobacco products are marketed toward children while many shop owners owners say banning it would be a big blow to business.
The bill sought to make statewide prohibitions that are already in place in Portland, South Portland, Brunswick, Bangor and Bar Harbor.