Senate Page, Ellie Klesert asks members of the House Consumer Protection and Business Committee about how they regulate teen nicotine use, and how this regulation differs from regulations for adults.
Question: Currently there is a nicotine epidemic within the youth population with almost 7.7% of Washington teens using e-cigarettes with many also using nicotine pouches. How could the committee plan to reduce teen usage of nicotine products while still allowing legal access for adult consumers. And, what are the most challenging parts about drafting and implementing e-cigarette policy in comparison to tobacco or traditional cigarettes.
Discussion Questions:
How has the internet changed how lawmakers regulate nicotine use?
Taxes are raised from the sale of nicotine. How does Representative Corry want this money to be used?
How should the executive branch be involved in curbing nicotine use?
What is one of the tenets of the committee, according to Representative Hackney?
According to Representative Hackney, what aspects of the nicotine industry should the committee be looking at?
What is the importance of the phrase “unreasonably dangerous” to lawmakers?
How are the legislators’ ideas similar and how are they different?
On The Issues is produced by Teach with TVW, the education wing of TVW, Washington’s Public Affairs network, in partnership with the Legislative Page Program. Each week throughout the Legislative Session Legislative Pages research issues the legislators are working on and prepare questions to be brought to legislative leadership.
Teach with TVW is TVW’s civic education department, dedicated to helping people of all ages across Washington State understand how government works and participate effectively in the legislative process.
Learn more at: www.teachwithtvw.org