On August 8, 2023, the Richfield City Council voted 3-0 to pass an ordinance that prohibits the sale of all flavored commercial tobacco products, including menthol, and caps the number of tobacco licenses at four. It is the 11th city or county in Minnesota to completely ban flavors, following closely behind its neighbors Bloomington and Edina. The council heard from five testifiers in support of the ordinance at the August 8th meeting. Aisha Ibrahim, Minnesota Youth Council representative and Eagan Tobacco-Free Society member, spoke about her personal experience with secondhand smoke at school and urged the Council to consider the health of Richfield’s youth. American Heart Association advocate Mark Olson shared how he got involved in tobacco prevention after having a heart attack 16 years ago. In response to the pro-business arguments against the ordinance, Mark said, “I want kids to be able to live the American Dream…Without this ordinance, it’s going to set them up to not even be living to do that.” Councilmember Hayford Oleary dubbed this quote “a pretty perfect line” later in the meeting. Councilmember Hayford Oleary also read a statement from Councilmember Whalen, who could not attend the meeting. Whalen explained his rationale for supporting the ordinance, writing “…banning the sale of flavored tobacco products plus limiting tobacco licenses over time makes sense as a way to prioritize public health.” After voting to pass the ordinance, Mayor Supple and Councilmembers Hayford Oleary and Christensen repeatedly emphasized the importance of choosing public health. The Council also mentioned that the city will be removing tobacco products from its municipal liquor stores. “I do recognize that this does have an effect on small business owners, so I think that is something that we do have to acknowledge here,” noted Mayor Supple. “Richfield’s bold move to clear the market of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol, aims to create a healthier city for everyone by reducing tobacco-related health problems, preventing new users and protecting the well-being of young residents from a lifetime of nicotine addiction and its associated risk,” said Molly Schmidtke, Community Outreach Coordinator at ANSR. “Through this proactive stance, Richfield not only champions equity but also fosters the growth of a healthier, more resilient community. Thank you Richfield!” The ordinance takes effect on January 1, 2024. Thank you to all who played a part in this victory. It is a huge win for public health and tobacco-free environments!

With funding from the Minnesota Department of Health, ANSR created a new ‘Tools for Schools’ toolkit to help school staff prevent commercial tobacco and nicotine use among students. It contains a wealth of evidence-based prevention strategies for schools and includes:  tools for youth education, engagement, and advocacy; lesson plans from ANSR’s Tobacco 101 curriculum; lists of support programs and treatment options; guidance on support over suspension measures; and factsheets about flavored commercial tobacco products and e-cigarettes. The toolkit also highlights assistance that ANSR can provide directly. This includes (but is not limited to): newsletter drop-ins, social media posts, model school tobacco- and smoke-free policies, and staff and student presentations. The ANSR team is more than happy to assist school staff in implementing or sharing the information found in the toolkit more broadly.  “There is so much out there, with staff feeling overwhelmed with daily life in school and wanting to effectively address concerns using best practices,” said Katie Engman, program director at ANSR. “We heard from school staff that they wanted something boiled down, simple and easy to understand. We hope this tool will help.” ANSR invites its colleagues and school partners to use this resource in their work. Download the toolkit on the ANSR website, and contact Molly Schmidtke ( molly@ansrmn.org ) or Katie Engman, ( katie@ansrmn.org ) with any questions.

Since 1974, the Minnesota Prevention Resource Center , housed at ANSR, has hosted the annual Minnesota Prevention Program Sharing Conference to connect and engage prevention professionals around the state. The gathering is an opportunity for individuals from health departments, schools, nonprofit organizations and other groups involved in prevention work in Minnesota to come together, share ideas and learn from each other. This year, the conference took place at Cragun’s Resort on Gull Lake in Brainerd. The theme, “Support Connections. Build Prevention. Engage Communities,” focused on collaboration, expanding networks and supporting health and wellbeing through primary prevention. In total, 258 people registered for the conference and 22 organizations set up exhibition booths. Rebecca Slaby, executive director of Amazeworks, kicked off the first day with her keynote session, “Creating Communities of Belonging as a Key Prevention Strategy.” On day two, a panel of experts discussed the changing landscape of cannabis legislation and prevention in Minnesota. Fifty other speakers presented about their own prevention work and expertise in 26 breakout sessions across the two days. This includes three ANSR staff: Molly Schmidtke presented on the environmental impacts of tobacco product waste (left), Katie Engman presented on Benton County’s recent commercial tobacco ordinance and Elyse Levine Less presented on peer-to-peer vaping prevention strategies. All sessions were recorded to increase statewide access and will be available for registrants soon. A big thank you to everyone who made this year’s conference such a huge success. The 50th annual Minnesota Prevention Program Sharing Conference will be held on October 15-16, 2024 in St. Cloud. We hope to see you there! Contact madeline@ansrmn.org with any questions about the conference.

The Minneapolis City Council passed a comprehensive amendment to the city’s tobacco ordinance on April 25, 2024. The amendment: prohibits price promotions and the redemption of coupons for all commercial tobacco and vaping products; sets a $15 minimum price on cigarettes and other commercial tobacco products, making it one of the highest in the nation; increases penalties for retailers who violate the ordinance; and ends the sampling loophole for new tobacco products shops. One-third of adult smokers use tobacco coupons or discounts. Higher commercial tobacco prices lead to reduced adult smoking rates, less youth initiation, and more quit attempts and calls to quitlines.  Minneapolis continues to be a leader in adopting strong commercial tobacco prevention policies. These changes will protect Minneapolis youth and residents of color from tobacco industry targeting, reduce the appeal of commercial tobacco products, and support those who are trying to quit using commercial tobacco. ANSR applauds the Council for voting unanimously in support of this ordinance and putting their residents’ health first. Read more about the ordinance on the City of Minneapolis website , including quotes from ordinance author Council Member Latrisha Vetaw and Mayor Jacob Frey. Thank you to everyone who emailed, called, testified, sent a letter of support, attended a council meeting, and/or spread the word about this ordinance. Your voice matters in creating important public health policy change!

Give to the Max Day, Minnesota’s annual giving holiday, is on Thursday, November 16, 2023. Making a donation to ANSR on Give to the Max Day is a powerful way to stand up for the health of Minnesotans. Your contribution keeps ANSR steadfast in our commitment to reducing the harms of commercial tobacco and other drugs. Together, we can work to help enact local and statewide commercial tobacco prevention policies, educate our communities about the negative effects of smoking and other drug use and protect those in multiunit housing from secondhand smoke. We couldn’t do this work without generous contributions from supporters and public health champions like you. Please consider donating today! Donations can be made online using the button below or by sending a check to the ANSR office: 2395 University Ave W Suite 310, Saint Paul, MN 55114. From all of us at ANSR, thank you for helping us make Minnesota a healthier place to live, work and play!

Yesterday, the Saint Paul City Council named December 13, 2023 ‘Jeanne Weigum Day.’ ANSR staff, board members, community partners and friends filled the Council Chambers to celebrate Jeanne’s decades-long dedication to Saint Paul’s public health, neighborhoods and community. The resolution highlights many of Jeanne’s commercial tobacco prevention policy achievements in Saint Paul over the past five decades, including banning smoking at bars and restaurants, restricting menthol-flavored products and, most recently, prohibiting smoking in city parks.  Jeanne’s reach in the local community extends far beyond the commercial tobacco prevention sphere. The resolution honors her work as former president of the Friends of the Parks and Trails of Saint Paul and Ramsey County, as founder of the pet rescue and adoption nonprofit Pooches United With People (PUP), as a staunch opponent of billboards with the grassroots movement Scenic Saint Paul and as a community gardener in Saint Paul and her hometown of Mobridge, South Dakota. After Council President Brendmoen read the resolution, Jeanne shared about the many “roots” that keep her in Saint Paul. She also reflected on just how much the city has advanced over the past 50 years thanks to community organizers and councils past and present.  In true Jeanne fashion, her speech was both a statement of gratitude and a call to action for the Council. “The majority of the Council is leaving, but I’m not,” she said, meaning her advocacy work is far from over. Jeanne urged the Council to consider the negative ramifications of disposable e-cigarettes and a proposed digital billboard at I-94 and 280. She also reminded them about Nicotine-Free Generation policy, outfit change and all. Several councilmembers shared kind words about Jeanne after her remarks. Councilmember Noecker called Jeanne a “visionary,” saying “I think that so many advocates and organizers can learn so much from your example.” “There’s so much that you’ve done in this community, and I just want to say I am truly grateful for you as a citizen, as an advocate and as a friend,” said Councilmember Tolbert. “I look forward to the thing that you’re up to next.” Right after Jeanne’s recognition, the Council voted unanimously to remove tobacco vending machine licenses, reduce the number of Tobacco Shop licenses from 150 to 100 and reduce the number of Tobacco Product Shop licenses from 25 to 15. These actions will help reduce the availability of commercial tobacco and nicotine products within the city. Supporters gathered outside of the Chambers for photos, desserts and refreshments after the meeting. Thank you to all who came to celebrate Jeanne on this special day. Watch the council meeting here (begins at 5:30) and read the full resolution here .

During the last week of June 2022, twelve ANSR staff, interns, and partners traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana to share and learn at the National Conference on Tobacco or Health (NCTOH). NCTOH is the premier gathering of the United States tobacco control movement and this year’s conference had no shortage of ANSR’s leadership, innovation, and collaboration in the spotlight. You can view links to our presentations and posters below:  Katie Engman presented during a breakout session on how ANSR and partners passed a price discounting ordinance in St. Paul amidst the pandemic. View the presentation slides here: Community Organizing During a Pandemic: Passing innovative price discounting policies in St. Paul, MN ANSR interns/advocates Meghan McFarling, Anna Grace Hottinger, and Upendo Gimbi presented on authentic engagement of young people in tobacco work.View the presentation slides here: Not About Us Without Us: Engaging Youth and Young Adults in Tobacco Prevention and Advocacy Emily Anderson and our partner Bethlehem Yewhalawork from Northpoint presented the work of the Minnesota Menthol Coalition. View the presentation slides here: Keep the mission, shift the focus:How the Minnesota Menthol Coalition adapted Jackie Siewert presented a poster on equitable enforcement of smoke-free housing policies. View the poster here: Equitable & Effective Enforcement of Smoke-Free Housing Policies Katie Engman presented a poster on the implementation of Tobacco 21 in Minnesota. View the poster here: Implementing Minnesota’s Tobacco 21 Law During the COVID Pandemic Molly Schmidtke, Anna Grace Hottinger, and Upendo Gimbi presented a poster on data collection and youth engagement. View the poster here: The Best Messengers: Data Collection & Youth Engagement During COVID-19 Chris Smith joined partners from Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation to present a poster on the coalition’s racial and health equity work. View the poster here: Where the Rubber Hits the Road: Lessons Learned from Racial and Health Equity Public Policy Assessment Kara Skahen and Rachel Callanan from the Public Health Law Center presented a poster on the development of an equitable model smoke-free housing ordinance. View the poster here: Achieving Equity in Smoke-Free Housing: How a Social Justice Approach Shaped a Model Smoke-Free Housing Ordinance Jackie Siewert and Evalyn Carbrey from the Minneapolis Health Department presented a poster on access to affordable smoke-free housing in Minneapolis. View the poster here: Understanding Access to Affordable Smoke-Free Housing: Lessons Learned from the City of Minneapolis

SAINT PAUL (11/4/21) – On Wednesday, November 3, the Saint Paul City Council voted unanimously to prohibit the use of coupons and price promotions for commercial tobacco and vaping products. The measure is part of a comprehensive commercial tobacco ordinance that also sets a $10 minimum price for cigarette packs and standard-size cans of smokeless tobacco and increases penalties for retailers who sell commercial tobacco to people under age 21.  Saint Paul has historically been a leader on tobacco control policy. They were one of the first cities to enact a smoke-free air ordinance, well ahead of the statewide law passed in 2007. Saint Paul was also among the first cities to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco, including menthol cigarettes in 2017. Since then, more than 20 Minnesota communities have followed suit. Saint Paul continues its leadership on tobacco control policy with this ordinance. According to the Association for Nonsmokers – Minnesota, the inclusion of vaping products in the ordinance’s price-discounting prohibition makes it the first-of-its-kind in the United States.  Council President, Amy Brendmoen, stated in a virtual public hearing on October 26 that commercial tobacco adds no value to the community and retailers need to find more creative ways to attract customers.   “I’ve said this a few times — give me a good samosa. Give me some pizza. Give me some bubble tea. I’ll get in there,” Brendmoen said. Brendmoen and the other six Council Members all voted in support of the ordinance.  “It would be even more powerful to see other cities adopt this as well. So I encourage those elected officials to do this for their communities, too,” said Councilmember Nelsie Yang before the final vote. During the virtual public hearing for the ordinance, the Saint Paul City Council heard from a broad and diverse group of supporters representing community organizations, healthcare groups, businesses, religious groups, and Saint Paul residents. One such supporter was Jonathan Rose, Saint Paul resident and Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Aid Initiative.  “Keeping the prices of all tobacco products high and regulating price promotions are progressive steps toward protecting our families and community from starting and helping with quitting,” said Rose.  Tobacco companies have long targeted youth, African Americans, Indigenous people, LGBTQ people and other people of color with cheap tobacco. The ordinance will help reduce tobacco-related health disparities in those communities.  “Cheap tobacco does not benefit my community’s health. Putting this in place will have a positive impact on the mental health of my friends and family,” said Zhara Christopher, a young St. Paul resident, during the virtual public hearing. The ordinance goes into effect on December 11, 2021.

City is 23rd Minnesota community to restrict sales of products  Columbia Heights, Minn. (10/12/2021) – The Columbia Heights City Council took a major step on Monday night to protect the health of youth and all residents from the harms of tobacco.   The City Council voted 4-0 to restrict the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol, to adult-only tobacco stores. Menthol-, candy- and fruit-flavored tobacco products are attractive to youth, and the tobacco industry uses these flavors to hook a new generation of users, resulting in addiction, disease and death. Eighty percent of youth tobacco users use flavored tobacco.  Additionally, the council voted to remove purchase, use, and possession penalties for those under the age of 21. These penalties–known as PUP penalties–divert focus from addressing irresponsible retailers and the tobacco industry which has a long history of targeting youth. The council had previously voted to update its tobacco ordinance to meet state requirements that raise the tobacco sales age to 21.   Speaking in support of the ordinance, Councilmember Kt Jacobs outlined her rationale for wanting to approve the changes. “Vaping erased 15 years of progress lowering the use of tobacco by our youth. The numbers are just astounding.” Jacobs went on to say, “I’ve listened to companies that have come forward locally. I’ve listened to the residents. Policies such as the ones before us this evening are proven to reduce the use by both youth and African American adults, two of the most targeted tobacco industry market groups. I cannot in good conscience ignore these numbers as I cast my vote this evening.” Student data survey results released in 2020 showed an alarming jump in the rate of teens vaping in Minnesota.  Flavored vapes are the choice of youth. Overall youth tobacco use had already taken an upward swing in 2017 for the first time in 17 years because of e-cigarette and flavored cigar use.   “On Monday night, Columbia Heights joined a growing group of Minnesota cities to recognize the importance of implementing strong restrictions on the sale of flavored tobacco to protect youth and help alleviate health disparities,” said Emily Anderson, Director of Policy at the Association for Nonsmokers-Minnesota. “The tobacco industry has long used sweet, candy and mint flavors to hook smokers. Minnesota communities understand that they can have a positive impact on their cities by acting now. We hope that state leaders will take notice and take statewide action soon.” In Minnesota, African American (88 percent), LGBTQ youth (70 percent) and all youth (34 percent) smokers use menthol at a higher rate than the general population.  Columbia Heights is the 23rd Minnesota community to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco and the 18th to also restrict the sale of menthol. Ten of those cities completely ban flavors.  The ordinance takes effect in 30 days.

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