The Minneapolis City Council unanimously approves changes to its tobacco ordinance in hope of deterring young people from vaping.
The change sets the minimum price fo all e-cigarettes at $25.
Councilmember Aurin Chowdhury says her generation was to have been the one to banish tobacco use, but the industry had other ideas:
"It went from very few young people smoking and having a nicotine addiction, to college campuses on game days, running out of Juul pods," Chowdhury describes.
The amended ordinance also bans new tobacco retailers from opening within 300-feet of schools.
The council is hoping that higher price for e-cigarettes will help keep young people from vaping in the first place.
And Councilmember Chowdhury says the research is clear.
"Vaping can lead to - and exacerbate - mental health issues from anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation," Chowdhury says. "We also know how predatory the tobacco industry is."
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey must still approve the changes.
E-cigarettes are the most used commercial tobacco product among youth. Data from the 2023 Minnesota Youth Tobacco Survey shows 13.9% of Minnesota high school students reported using an e-cigarette in the past 30 days. Data from 2020 and 2023 also show that students who use e-cigarettes are increasingly reporting signs of dependence.
Flavored e-cigarettes – such as fruit, candy, and mint – are especially popular among youth, with most youth starting with flavored varieties.
Many Minnesota teachers and school staff also report an overwhelming number of youth vaping during the school day.