CANTON TWP. (WWJ) -- Three smoke shops in Canton Township were caught illegally selling to minors during undercover operations in the Wayne County community.
The Canton Police Department said it conducted vape and tobacco sales checks at multiple local businesses, in each instance using a "decoy" minor who attempted to buy either vape or tobacco products.
In a news release Friday, the Canton PD listed three businesses that sold to the decoy.
The violators identified by police were as follows:
• Sweet Fire Tobacco, 1735 S. Haggerty Road
• Wild Bills Tobacco, 5820 N. Sheldon Road
• King Tobacco, 44279 Ford Road
All three of these establishments receive a misdemeanor citation.
Police said an additional five local shops, including three others on Ford Road and one on Haggarty Road, did not sell to the decoys.
The Canton Police Department said it conducts these random compliance checks throughout the community with officers utilizing a “zero tolerance” enforcement strategy when dealing with violations of alcohol, tobacco and vape sales to minors.
Alcohol violations are also reported to the State of Michigan’s Liquor Control Commission.
This comes as tobacco use by young people has been trending up in recent years. According to study last year by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2.55 million U.S. middle and high school students reported current e-cigarette use in 2022, which includes 14.1% of high school students and 3.3% of middle school students.
Not only is use of these substance known to cause lung damage, according to a recent study by the American Heart Association, it is believed there could be a connection between teens and young adults who vape being diagnosed with depression and anxiety.
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