Benton Harbor City Commissioners have approved a resolution calling on the Michigan Legislature to ban flavored tobacco products.
At a Monday meeting, Mayor Marcus Muhammad said the city was approached by a health group seeking to influence public policy on the issue. It’s asking cities to speak up.
“Where we can use our voices to influence the Legislature to look at these laws and change them to protect young people, youths, and people in our community,” Muhammad said. “The statistics pointing to the sales are by and large in Black communities, but what we also have found is it’s popping up everywhere.”
The resolution covers not only flavored tobacco, but also flavored vaping products and menthol cigarettes.
Muhammad said while the city doesn’t have control over the legality of such substances, it can send a message to state lawmakers.
Commissioners approved the resolution unanimously.
