Minnesota Highlights

Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States and in Minnesota. To address this enormous toll, the American Lung Association calls for the following actions to be taken by Minnesota’s elected officials:

During the 2024 Minnesota Legislative Session the bill to restrict access to all flavored commercial tobacco products (House File 2177) made progress with two successful hearings in the Minnesota House Health Finance and Policy Committee and the Commerce Committee. Ultimately, during the last weeks of session efforts to pass the bill stalled and when session ended, the bill did not pass.

A bill that addressed vaping products marketed to children (Senate File 4351) passed. The new law prohibits deceptive marketing, promotion, advertisement, distribution or sale of a vapor product that imitates a product that is not a vapor product, that are described or depicted as imitating candy, desserts, or beverages that are commonly marketed to minors, that imitate school supplies, or that are based on or describe characters that appeal to minors.

The American Lung Association – as part of the Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation statewide coalition of more than 60 organizations also worked to restrict flavored vaped or smoked cannabis products. During committee hearings, the bill language was weakened and was later removed entirely from the Health Policy Omnibus bill.

During the 2024 legislative session, the tobacco industry had a strong presence with 24 tobacco industry lobbyists registered with the Minnesota Secretary of State, almost half (11) representing Altria (formerly Philip Morris).

In January, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota released “The Cost of Smoking” report showing the economic impact of smoking in Minnesota. The report shows that 6,530 Minnesotans die annually because of smoking, costing $9.4 billion in health care and lost productivity costs. These costs equal $824 for every adult and child in the state.

New data from the 2023 Minnesota Youth Tobacco Survey was released in 2024 and confirmed that flavors continue to attract youth with 76.3% of Minnesota students who experimented with commercial tobacco reported the first product they tried was favored, including with menthol. The survey also revealed a growing number of students that vape are vaping frequently and signs of nicotine dependence have intensified among those that vape.

The American Lung Association in Minnesota will continue to work together with coalition partners in 2025 as part of the Smoke Free Generation coalition to eliminate access to all flavored commercial tobacco products and finish this major piece of legislation.