CC PACKET 10082019 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

2019 STEERING COMMITTEE CHAIR: Cathy Skinner, MA ThrivOrs VICE CHAIR: Anne Snowden, MPH, CPHQ SECRETARY/TREASURER: Jerri Hiniker, BSN Stratis Health Rita Aspinwall Fond du Lac Human Services Division Brittney Dahlin Minnesota Association of Community Health Centers Sarah DeBord Colon Cancer Coalition Katie Engman, MCHES Association of Nonsmokers-MN Thomas Flynn, MD Minnesota Medical Association Patty Graham HealthPartners Holly Guerrero Allina Health Shari Hahn, MSN Sanford Bemidji Cancer Center Deborah Laxson Health Care Literacy Project Sarah Manes Angel Foundation Mary Manning Minnesota Department of Health Kris Newcomer Firefly Sisterhood Sumedha Penheiter, PhD Mayo Clinic Christopher Pennell University of Minnesota – Masonic Cancer Center Melanie Peterson-Hickey, PhD Minnesota Department of Health GayLynn Richards, PhD Nancy Torrison A Breath of Hope Foundation Richard Zera, MD Hennepin County Medical Center October 1, 2019 St. Anthony Village City Council 3301 Silver Lake Road St. Anthony, MN 55418 Mayor Faust and Councilmembers, Thank you for considering this important ordinance to increase the tobacco sales age to 21 in St. Anthony Village. Tobacco 21 is about protecting youth from the lifelong health burdens of tobacco use. Minnesota Cancer Alliance strongly supports action to adopt this ordinance. The Minnesota Cancer Alliance (MCA) is committed to reducing the burden of cancer for all people living in Minnesota. We are a coalition of over 100 organizations from across the state dedicated to reducing the burden of cancer across the continuum; from prevention and detection, to treatment, survivorship, and end-of-life care. Our members include Fairview Health Services, the Masonic Cancer Center at the U of M, the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Health Partners, Medica, Blue Cross Blue Shield of MN, the MN Medical Association– to name just a few. Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of cancer, and cancer is the leading cause of death among Minnesotans. Based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cigarette smoking is responsible for three in ten cancer deaths. If we can prevent youth from smoking before they turn 21, they will never start at all. Of adult smokers, 95% started before they were 21. Youth tobacco use is a growing problem. In 2017, Minnesota youth tobacco use rose for the first time in 17 years, a nearly 50% increase since data was collected in 2014. The tobacco industry markets their products to teens through social media and the internet, and the nicotine in these devices primes young brains for a lifetime of addiction. You have the opportunity to protect St. Anthony Village’s young people from the burdens of addiction and a myriad of cancers and other chronic diseases. Increasing the tobacco sales age to 21 will limit access to tobacco products among youth. Your leadership sets the example for the state to follow. We support this ordinance and encourage you to adopt it. Thank you for your commitment to protect youth from the harms of tobacco. Sincerely, Cathy Skinner, MA Chair, MN Cancer Alliance Steering Committee cc: Donna McDuffie Comprehensive Cancer Control Program Minnesota Department of Health 88