HomeMy WebLinkAboutHELFER EMAIL 03_16_2026&Outloo k
Re: NO STEALTH PROHIBITION
From Lewis, Barry < BLewis@yarmouth.ma.us>
Date Mon 2026-03-16 1:59 PM
To Stephen Helfer <shelfer@gmail.com >; Selectboard <Selectboard@yarmouth.ma.us>;Whritenour, Robert
< RWhritenour@yarmouth.ma.us >; Provos, Sara < SProvos@yarmouth.ma.us >; Grylls, Mark
< mgrylls@yarmouth.ma.us>; Hillard Boskey <hillard.boskey@gmail.com>
Dear Mr. H elfer
Thank you for your email. The Nicotine Free Generations are in discussion stage only right now with the
Yarmouth Board of Health at this time. We are having a meeting this evening at 5pm this evening. lf
you would like to come in or zoom in for more information, you are more than welcome. I will forward
this emailto the BOH for review also.
Thank you
Barry
From: Stephen Helfer <shelfer@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, March 16, 2026 72:22 PM
To: Lewis, Barry <BLewis@yarmouth.ma.us>; Selectboard <Selectboa rd@yarmouth, ma.us>; Whritenour, Robert
<RWhritenour@yarmouth.ma.us>
Subject: NO STEALTH PROHIBITION
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To the Yarmouth BOH, Select Board, & Administrator Whritenour:
1) lf the tobacco industry is trying to attract youth, it is not succeeding. The Centers for Disease
Control reports teenage smoking at a 25-year low. The Food & Drug Administration reports youth
vaping at a 1o-year low & their nicotine pouch use "remains low." A Generational Tobacco & Nicotine
Prohibition has no impact on youth; it infantilizes future generations of adults.
2) Immigrants of color own most of the stores that sell tobacco & nicotine products. This prohibition
may not close their businesses, but it would hurt & devalue them. Brookline merchants saw overall
sales declines, notjust declines in tobacco & nicotine products after this proposal went into effect.
The ability to run a business & support a family is vital to public health.
3) Massachusetts adults 21 & over are deemed competent to buy alcohol & marijuana-both
intoxicants. Adults need not be prohibited from purchasing tobacco & nicotine products--neither of
which impairs judgment or compromises driving ability.
Stephen Helfer (617) 876-2457
Cambridge Citizens for Smokers' Rights
(We receive no funding from any source whatsoever)
Sou rces
Cigarette smoking reached the lowest level ever recorded by the survey. with only 1.4o/o ol
students reporting current use in 2024.
CDC Newsroom , Oct. 17 , 2024
Youth E-Cigarette Use Drops to Lowest Level in a Decade: Youth Use of Nicotine Pouches
Remains Low
FDA News Release, Sept. 5, 2024
Elias Audy owns Village Mobil. He has seen a syo lo 8% reduction in sales of gas, cigarettes, and
other store items & expects to see a continued reduction of sales. "Sunny" lqbal owns a gas
station & a convenience store. Since COVID he saw a 30% drop in overall store revenue and lost
many customers born after 2000,
Brookline News, Oct. 26, 2023
Nicotine does not disturb consciousness, impair judgement or social behavior and, if anything,
it enhances rather than impairs cognitive and psychomotor performance and the capacity to
work.
Professor Michael Russell, British Journal of Addiction, '199'1