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HAGATNA, GUAM – February 1, 2024 – Lawmakers held a public hearing on a bill aimed at reducing tobacco use in Guam, Thursday afternoon. Bill No. 229-37 is currently being considered by the Committee on Environment, Revenue and Taxation, Labor, Procurement, and Statistics, Research and Planning. If enacted, the bill would prohibit the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol and e-cigarettes in Guam.
Cynthia Au, Government Relations Director with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), released the following statement after delivering public testimony on the matter:
“Ending the sale of menthol cigarettes and all other flavored tobacco products is a step towards reducing tobacco use in Guam. Removing these flavored tobacco products from the market can be a critical component to a comprehensive strategy to reduce initiation and lifelong addiction.
“Laws aimed at ending the sale of menthol cigarettes and all other flavored tobacco products are most effective when they include all products, all flavors, and all retailers. These laws have the potential to reduce youth and young adult initiation of tobacco products.
“Flavors are a marketing weapon used by tobacco manufacturers to target youth and young people to a lifetime of addiction. Ending the sale of menthol cigarettes and all other flavored tobacco products will make it harder for the tobacco industry to target youth and young adults with their addictive and deadly products and make it easier for adults to quit.
“We applaud the lawmakers who support this bill and look forward to working with legislators in hopes of taking the next steps in protecting youth, young adults, and the public health at-large."