CHARLESTON, WV – April 9, 2017 – Earlier today, West Virginia’s Senate passed a bill that would prohibit those under 18 from using indoor tanning devices in the state. This follows the lead of the House of Delegates which overwhelming passed the bill late last month. Following is a statement from Juliana Frederick, West Virginia’s government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network:
“The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is pleased that the Senate has joined the House in passing HB2520, which would reduce the risk of skin cancer among young people in the state of West Virginia by prohibiting minors from using tanning beds. We call on the governor to act quickly on signing this bill because the use of tanning devices is on the rise and so is the risk of melanoma and other skin cancers.
“We know that the earlier a person starts tanning, the greater the risk of getting melanoma and other skin cancers later in life, which is why this new law would be so critical. Research has proven that using an indoor tanning device before the age of 35 increases the risk of melanoma by 59 percent. And, the risk is even higher when tanning bed use begins before the age of 25.
“When it is enacted, this bill will be an important step forward for public health in West Virginia.”
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.