JOINT RELEASE: Bill Tackling Teen Vaping Becomes Law
Denver, CO – Today the Governor signed a landmark bill to combat the rising numbers of teen vaping in Colorado. Sponsored by Senator Jeff Bridges and Representative Kyle Mullica, HB20-1001 keeps kids safe by increasing the minimum age for purchase of tobacco and nicotine products from 18 to 21 and by improving enforcement around underage sales.
“This year, Democrats made combatting our state’s youth vaping epidemic one of our top priorities,” said Rep. Kyle Mullica, D-Northglenn. “Raising the nicotine purchasing age to 21 and closing online purchasing loopholes are important steps forward, and I'm proud of the work the legislature did to make this the law. We refuse to allow the nicotine industry to prey on our young people and profit off of their addiction.”
“Colorado has the highest teen vaping rate in the nation,” said Sen. Bridges, D-Greenwood Village. “This new law will ensure that dangerous products are not sold or directly advertised to kids – curbing addiction rates and holding violators accountable. I am incredibly proud to have sponsored this legislation and to see an important step in combating teen vaping taken today.”
In addition to raising the minimum age of purchase, HB20-1001 requires that all nicotine product retailers be licensed, while also strengthening regulatory measures aimed at cracking down on underage sales. In recent years, enforcement mechanisms have been feeble – allowing some businesses to sell directly to customers online or repeatedly market to minors in stores. This new law will close online distribution loopholes and increase consequences for violators by raising fines and giving the state the ability to suspend a retailer's license if they illegally sell products to children.
The policy goes on to prohibit the display of showy advertising aimed at younger customers and bans any new retail locations from operating within 500 feet of a school.
Colorado has the highest rate of youth vaping in the nation, with 27 percent of high schoolers reporting e-cigarette use. This is not only detrimental in terms of an increased risk of tobacco smoking, but the nicotine contained in vaping products also has been found to negatively affect adolescent brain development, causing lasting cognitive impairments. Vaping chemicals contain many cancer-causing toxins as well, including dangerous heavy metals.