HOUSE MEMORIAL 51

56th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2024

INTRODUCED BY

Elizabeth "Liz" Thomson and Joanne J. Ferrary

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S NICOTINE USE PREVENTION AND CONTROL PROGRAM MEMBERS TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE TO PRIORITIZE AND INCREASE THE FUNDING FOR TOBACCO USE PREVENTION; REQUESTING THAT A TASK FORCE MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE EFFECT OF EXCISE TAXES ON THE SALE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS.

 

     WHEREAS, the United States surgeon general, the national cancer institute, the national toxicology program and the world health organization have all concluded that cigarettes and other tobacco products are addictive, harmful and deadly; and

     WHEREAS, two thousand six hundred adults die in New Mexico each year from tobacco-related illnesses, and another seventy- eight thousand live with tobacco-related diseases, including heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes and cancer; and

     WHEREAS, twenty-five and six-tenths percent of New Mexico high school youth use tobacco products; and

     WHEREAS, e-cigarette use among youth in New Mexico is a major public health concern as it can negatively affect brain development, attention and cognition and increase the risk of anxiety and depression; and 

     WHEREAS, the flavored smell, taste, packaging and large amount of product placed in a single e-cigarette cartridge increase the chances that youth will become addicted; and

     WHEREAS, attorney general Raul Torrez reached a settlement with e-cigarette company JUUL labs, incorporated for its unlawful advertising practices that targeted New Mexico youth; and

     WHEREAS, in the settlement, JUUL agreed to pay New Mexico seventeen million eighty-two thousand six hundred six dollars ninety-eight cents ($17,082,606.98) in compensation and abide by comprehensive advertising regulations that prohibit targeting youth; and

     WHEREAS, JUUL is not the only e-cigarette company operating in New Mexico, and other companies are still marketing to youth here; and

     WHEREAS, a successful method advocated by the United States surgeon general to reduce youth and adult tobacco use is to increase the price of cigarettes through excise taxes; and

     WHEREAS, the federal centers for disease control and prevention found that after four years, an increase in excise taxes in Massachusetts, combined with an anti-smoking campaign, produced a nineteen and seven-tenths percent decline in cigarette consumption per capita; and

     WHEREAS, it is estimated that raising the cost of cigarettes to ten dollars ($10.00) per pack nationwide would result in four million eight hundred thousand fewer smokers between the ages of twelve and twenty-five; and

     WHEREAS, the department of health's nicotine use prevention and control program works with communities, schools and organizations to provide information and services that decrease the harmful and addictive use of tobacco; and

     WHEREAS, the department of health's nicotine use prevention and control program needs sufficient funds to promote healthy lifestyles free from tobacco use among youth, tribal and other vulnerable populations; and

     WHEREAS, increases in tobacco product prices combined with a well-funded, comprehensive tobacco prevention and cessation program will have the most impact on reducing tobacco use, especially among youth;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of health's nicotine use prevention and control program members be requested to make recommendations to the legislature to prioritize and increase the funding for evidence-based tobacco prevention programs to reduce tobacco-related illness and save lives in New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department of health and the taxation and revenue department be requested to convene a task force to study the effect of excise taxes on the sale of tobacco products; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of health, the secretary of taxation and revenue and the governor.

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