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American Cancer Action Network
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fiSociety Honolulu, Hi 96817
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County Council
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County of Hawaii �_f
Hearing Date:Wednesday, December 20,2023 �;,) z, :.
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ACS CAN SUPPORT with COMMENTS on Bill 102(Draft 2)—AMENDS CHAPTER 14 OF THE HAWAI'I
COUNTY CODE 1983(2016 EDITION,AS AMENDED),BY ADDING A NEW ARTICLE RELATING TO THE '
PROHIBITION OF FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS.
Cynthia Au, Government Relations Director—Hawaii Guam
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Thank you for the opportunity to SUPPORT with COMMENTS on Bill 102 (Draft 2).
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy
affiliate of the American Cancer Society. We support evidence-based policy and legislative solutions
designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN supports efforts to invest in
comprehensive policies that would strengthen the health infrastructure in Hawai'i to prevent kids from
starting to use tobacco and help adults already addicted to tobacco to quit.
ACS CAN supports ending the sale of menthol cigarettes and ALL other flavored tobacco products with no
exemptions at all retailers. ACS CAN does not support the exemption for cannabis as doing so creates
confusion and enforcement issues as many electronic smoking devices are used for a variety of substances
and it can be difficult to determine what substance is in these products. Additionally, such an exemption
leaves the door open for Big Tobacco to add cannabis to their products to skirt the law. We recommend
removing language referencing cannibas to avoid any unintended consequences.
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths in Hawaii with an estimated 1,400 adults dying
from smoking every year) There are 21,000 keiki who are alive now that will die prematurely due to
smoking-related disease."Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death nationwide.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this important matter. Should you have any questions,
please do not hesitate to contact Cynthia Au at 808.460.6109,or Cvnthia.au@cancer.org.
'Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. The Toll of Tobacco in Hawaii.Updated January 20.2023.https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/problem/toll-
us/hawaii
"Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. The Toll of Tobacco in Hawaii.Updated January 20.2023. https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/problem/toll-
us/hawaii a
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