ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES AND UTAH’S KIDS Prepared for public distribution by Practical Strategic Solutions - Utah

What Are Electronic Cigarettes?

One e-cigarette cartridge can contain as much as 120 mg of nicotine which is equivalent to the amount of nicotine in 100 cigarettes

What Are Electronic Cigarettes? The liquid used in e-cigarettes is a mixture of nicotine, flavors, and propylene glycol, glycerin or both. Bottles of e-cigarette liquid range in size from ml. A 50 ml bottle of liquid could contain as much as 1,200 mg of nicotine, which is equal to the nicotine in 50 packs or 5 cartons of cigarettes. Flavors include gummy bears, fruit punch, peach, licorice, chocolate, mint, etc.

Electronic Cigarettes and Utah’s Kids E-Cigarettes Pose Great Danger to Adolescent Youth Nicotine exposure at a young age disrupts normal brain development and leads to permanent changes in the functioning of the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for long-term planning, decision-making, attention and cognitive control. E-cigarette use can lead to regular nicotine use or use of other tobacco products. E-cigarette use glamorizes tobacco use, including exposing children to images of tobacco use. E-cigarette use exposes youth involuntarily to aerosolized nicotine or other psychoactive substances. E-cigarette use can result in poisonings through ingestion, inhalation, or absorption of nicotine liquid on the skin.

Electronic Cigarettes and Utah’s Kids

Electronic cigarette use among youth is growing exponentially in Utah

Electronic Cigarettes and Utah’s Kids PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS GRADES 8, 10, AND 12 REPORTING CURRENT E-CIGARETTE USE, BY LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICT 2013 Vs 2015 Health District Bear River5.2% 7.4% Central1.8% 10.0% Davis8.9% 8.4% (2,213) Salt Lake County5.3% 12.3% Southeastern3.1% 12.9% Southwest3.0% 11.2% Summit4.2% 9.3% Tooele5.9% 13.4% Tri-County4.2% 14.5% Utah County1.8% 7.6% Wasatch4.5% 7.5% Weber-Morgan19.9% 15.0% (2,495) UTAH5.8% 10.2% (22,000)

Electronic Cigarettes and Utah’s Kids HOW DO UNDERAGE YOUTH ACQUIRE E-CIGARETTES (In Order of Frequency) Purchase from friends or family members Purchase over the internet Direct purchase – e-cigarette shops, gas stations, mall kiosks Bum from friends Steal Parents

Utah Law and Electronic Cigarettes

Statutory AuthorityYes/NoCode Section if Yes E-cig use prohibited in indoor public places and cars Yes to 9 Schools prohibit e-cigarettes or paraphernalia on campus Yes53A (2)(b)(ii) Providing e-cig to minorsYes E-cig purchase by minorsYes E-cigarette defined as a tobacco product No- Taxation of e-cigarettes like a tobacco product No- Ban internet sales of e-cigarettes No- Advertising regulations for e- cigs or paraphernalia No- Licensing of manufacture of e-cigarettes or e-juice No-

Utah Law and Electronic Cigarettes

Goals of E-Cigarette Legislation for the 2016 Legislative Session Tax electronic cigarettes at the same level of Utah tax for tobacco products other than cigarettes (86% of Manufacturer’s Price); which will significantly increase their price. Research indicates that for every 10% increase in price for e-cigarettes there is a 6.5% decrease in youth use of e-cigarettes. Assessing the same tax rate on e-cigarettes as the Utah tax on tobacco products will reduce youth usage of e-cigarettes by more than 50% (11,000) of youth users statewide. Extend internet sales prohibition to electronic cigarettes. A recent study in states that don’t ban internet sales found that only 5 of 98 attempts by teens age 14 to 17 to buy e-cigarettes online were blocked by online vendors’ attempts to verify age. Amending state law to prohibit internet sales of e-cigarettes will eliminate an easy means by which youth acquire them. Extend advertising restrictions for cigarettes and tobacco to electronic cigarettes, electronic cigarette cartridges and liquids and electronic cigarette paraphernalia. Will eliminate many of the advertising means by which the e-cigarette industry draws youth favor to their products including billboards, placards and lighted signs.

Utah Law and Electronic Cigarettes

HOW CAN DAVIS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT GOVERNMENT LEADERS HELP? Student Government Leaders are Well Positioned to take a Major Role in a Legislative Campaign to Tax and Regulate E-Cigarettes Student government leaders represent the best of the best in their school and community. Student government leaders have access to other students, teachers and administrators, school community council members, school board members, parents and other adults, the media and student government leaders in other high schools. Student government leaders have access to state legislators, county and municipal government leaders who represent communities in Davis High School boundaries. Most importantly, student government leaders are in the age demographic most negatively impacted by electronic cigarettes as are their friends and contemporaries.

Utah Law and Electronic Cigarettes HOW CAN DAVIS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT GOVERNMENT LEADERS HELP? Student Government Leaders General Role with Legislative Campaign to Tax and Regulate E-Cigarettes EDUCATE: All targets (those who an give us what we want with the campaign) about the youth e-cigarette problem in our state. INFORM: All targets about a means by which the problem can be reduced or eliminated (the bill to tax and regulate e-cigarettes). ADVOCATE: Place pressure on the target to accept the legitimacy of the bill’s ability to reduce or eliminate the problem. CONVINCE: The target to take action that will approve the bill. If not a legislator, convince the target to contact legislators and pressure them to support a the bill; if a legislator, convince them to vote in support of the bill.

Utah Law and Electronic Cigarettes HOW CAN DAVIS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT GOVERNMENT LEADERS HELP? Campaign Tasks for Student Government Leaders Pre-legislative Session Provide input to the bill sponsor as he drafts the legislation. Build a coalition of students, teachers, administrators, school community council members and school board members to work in support of a campaign to tax and regulate e-cigarettes. Build a coalition of student government leaders from all area high schools. Work with the local and statewide media to build community awareness of the issue. Meet with government leaders, including state legislators, Mayor’s and City Council members in the Davis High School boundaries to garner their support. Construct a database of supporters for action alerts during the legislative session.

Utah Law and Electronic Cigarettes HOW CAN DAVIS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT GOVERNMENT LEADERS HELP? Campaign Tactics for Student Government Leaders Legislative Session Meet with key legislators at strategic times to encourage their support of the bill. Attend and testify in support of the bill during House and Senate standing committee hearings. Distribute talking points and other information to all legislators when the bill is being considered on the House and Senate floors. Issue action alerts during critical times to members of all coalitions developed during the pre-legislative session period. Issue letters to the editor, news releases and op eds in support of the bill to local and statewide news media. Coordinate activities with student leaders from other area high schools.

Electronic Cigarettes and Utah’s Kids QUESTIONS

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