OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OI CHICAGO
LORI E. LIGHTFOOT
MAYOR
September 9, 2020
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CI TY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
1 transmit herewith a resolution regarding the City's intent to continue working on crafting and enacting legislation that will expand the City's llavored tobacco ban.
Your favorable consideration ofthis resolution will be appreciated.
Very truly yours
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, After years of decline, tobacco use is growing at alarming rates, especially among youth, while Black life expectancy is also decreasing as a result of tobacco use; and
WHEREAS, As a society, we are losing another generation to tobacco addiction, with tobacco use up for the first time in decades as a result of vaping and flavored tobacco products; and
WHEREAS, The City of Chicago is dedicated to protecting its communities, especially youth, from tobacco use - the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Chicago and the United States; and
WHEREAS, By aggressively promoting flavored tobacco products such as menthol cigarettes, mango e-cigarettes and chocolate cigarillos, the tobacco industry is targeting youth, and misleading them to believe that flavored tobacco products are more safe than other tobacco products; and
WHEREAS, With colorful packaging, sweet flavors, and cheap prices, these products are often hard to distinguish from the candy displays they are often sold near, and tobacco industry representatives have even been quoted as saying that flavored tobacco products "are for someone who likes the taste of candy, if you know what I'm saying"; and
WHEREAS, Flavored tobacco products make it easier to start using tobacco and harder to quit. Eighty percent of youth tobacco users started with a flavored product, and eighty percent of youth and young adult users say they would quit if flavored tobacco products were unavailable; and
WHEREAS, Recent data shows that traditional cigarette smoking is increasing ...
Click here for full text