HomeMy WebLinkAboutLEWIS EMAIL 03_25_2026&Outlook
Fw: NFG information
From Lewis, Barry < BLewis@yarmouth.ma.us >
Date wed 2026-03-25 10:38 AM
To Grylls, Mark < mgrylls@yarmouth.ma.us >; Hillard Boskey BOH (hillard.boskey@gmail,com)
< hillard.boskey@ gmail.com >
Cc Provos, Sara < SProvos@yarmouth.ma.us >
Here is some more good information in response to the chamber of commerce email. I will put
together a response to the original emailtoday.
Earry
From: Buzby, Maureen <mbuzby@CityofMelrose.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 25,2025 10:01 AM
To: Lewis, Barry <BLewis@yarmouth.ma. us>
Cc: Dj Wilson <wilsond.i@ymail.com>; Bob Collett <bcollett@ ba rnsta blecounty.org>
Subiect: NFG information
Attention!: This email originates outside of the organization. Do not open attachments or click
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HiBarry,
Dr. Hank Dorkin generously shared the following:
I have additionaldata l'll send separately.
Best regards,
Maureen
From: Henry Dorkin <hdorkinmd@pedsp-Uj.!09_0p]_SCy035.r.S.!1>
Sent: Monday, March 23, 2026 L:2L PM
To: Buzby, Maureen <mbuzby@citvofmelrose.org>; Lisa Phillips < Lisa. p hlLipl@lallglQlg>
Subiect: NFG information
Objections sometimes raised:
1. What's the proof that nicotine is an addictive drug? What is the proof that this is a
serious addiction?
2. tNhy is this not an infringement on personal liberty and choice?
3. Those opposed state that small stores, especially on the border of states withoutsuch prohibition, say that this will cause serious economic harm. what is your response?
^ 4 can you quantify the amount of money that rung disease is costing in theCommonwealth, especially the amount which comes from public coffers?
5. Are there any data that such a NFG actually works?
1. Nicotine is highly addictive, especially with the industry's target population in
middle school and high school. (Picciotto CR and Kenny PJ, 2021 Cold Spring
Harbor Perspectives in Medicine; Benowitz NL, 2010 N Engl J Med 362(24) 2295-
2303). lts "dependence" risk is at 67.5% of those who try nicotine, compared to
20.9% lor cocaine.
2. This is a public health measure, not an attempt to limit personal freedom. The
Supreme Court of Massachusetts has ruled such when the first measures were
passed and challenged. As an example - someone may want to drive down
Massachusetts Avenue in Boston at 100 mph, arguing that it is an impingement on
their "freedom" and "rights" to prevent them from doing so. But such action not
only endangers their life, but pedestrians and other drivers. We have law
enforcement to prevent such activity because it is a matter of public health and
safety that such behavior not be allowed. The same is true with the nicotine free
generation. Not only does lung disease affect the individual using nicotine delivery
systems, but many of them have second hand implications as well. Not only in
terms of exposure, but the cost of the user's resultant medical bills are borne by
all of us through higher insurance rates for everyone.
3. This NFG bill does not affect current adults over 21. We wish they did not
smoke, and are happy to help them quit - but this bill does not affect them. lt only
affects those turning 21 in a grven year in Massachusetts. Now, the last recorded
year showed that there were approximately 67,000 new births in Massachusetts. lf
the nicotine pushers continue at current levels, then they would add -15% of
these to the smoking population numbers. This means in the entire state it would
only affect 10,000 young people turning 21. Contrast that with the current nicotine-
using population of adults. Of the 5,340,000 population 21 and older in
Massachusetts, -14.7% use some form of nicotine = 785,000. Thus, the law in the
first year would only affect 127% of the marketplace. lt would take a decade to
reach 10% of the current numbers. This does not include the premature deaths of
people from nicotine related disease nor the tremendous cost of medical care for
these people and the ones who have not yet succumbed.
4. Over $4.74 billion dollars is the estimated yearly cost of nicotine related
disease in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. $1 billion of that cost is born by
Massachusetts Medicaid. Additionally, nicotine related illness causes roughly $7
billion dollars in productivity losses yearly.
5. Data from Needham, one of the first municipalities to pass such legislation,
support the success on the local level. ln those areas that have passed NFG
locally, there has not been significant negative economic impact on retailers.
Henry L. Dorkin MD, FAAP
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