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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPATEL LETTER 12_01_2025Paresh Patel Station Ave Convenience Store 457, Station Ave, S.Yarmouth 12pareshpatel@gmail.com December 1, 2025 To: Yarmouth Board of Health, Subject: Strong Opposition to Proposed Ban/Restriction on Legal Nicotine Products Dear Board of Health Members, I am writing to express my deep concern and firm opposition to the ongoing efforts to further restrict or ban the sale of legal nicotine products to adults. As a responsible retailer and adult consumer, I feel it's important to point out that many strong regulations are already in place — and we have worked hard to follow every one of them. We Have Complied with Every Law — What More Do You Want to Take? • The minimum legal age to purchase nicotine and tobacco products was raised from 18 to 21 back in 2018, and we fully support that rule. • Menthol cigarettes have been banned. • All flavored vape and tobacco products have been banned. • The price of single cigars has raised significantly, making even legal, adult-only products harder to sell. • There are already extremely heavy penalties for any violations, including immediate loss of tobacco licenses, which would put small shops out of business. • We take age verification seriously with ID’s checked for age verification, staff training, and decals stating “SALE OF NICOTINE PRODUCTS TO UNDER 21 PROHIBITED” • We are not in business to sell to minors, unfortunately, mistakes do happen and we pay heavily for those who make human error. We Follow the Rules — Yet More Products Keep Getting Taken Away We have followed every change and every law you’ve passed — even when it’s made business harder, and when it’s taken products away that adult customers legally use. We’ve lost menthol, flavored vapes, flavored cigars — and now you’re proposing to ban even more products that are still legal for adults to buy? Opposition to Restricting Extra-Strength Nicotine Pouches I am strongly against the proposal to move extra-strength nicotine pouches to smoke shops only. Not every adult’s body or nicotine tolerance is the same. Some adults have stronger nicotine cravings or are using pouches as a harm reduction tool to avoid smoking or vaping. These products should remain available in regular retail settings where adults already shop, not to be pushed into smoke shops. Additionally, as Cape Cod has approved adult-use cannabis dispensaries, where any adult can purchase THC products, then it is simply unfair and hypocritical to single-out nicotine and deny other adults the right to choose for themselves. This is not just about public health — this is about fairness, freedom of choice, and the survival of small businesses. Enough is Enough We understand the importance of protecting youth. We support reasonable regulation, but continuing to remove every single product that adults use, despite strong age restrictions and enforcement, is going too far. You’re hurting responsible retailers and adult consumers who are trying to follow the law. If every product gets banned, even for adults, what’s left? Why keep punishing those of us who play by the rules and follow the law? Respect Adults, Protect Youth — But Be Fair! Final Thoughts Please consider a more balanced approach that focuses on enforcement, education, and compliance, not more bans. Respect the rights of adults to make their own informed decisions, and stop taking away legal products from responsible businesses and consumers. Thank you for your time and attention. Sincerely, Paresh Patel