I am writing today to express my concerns regarding pending legislation L.D. 1215, which contains a ban on the sale of flavored smoke-free nicotine products.

As a former legislator and someone in a highly regulated industry, I can tell you more laws to ban products that already are regulated by statute is a poor decision. Here is another such example — banning flavored nicotine products.

It will only cause people to shop in other states, removing revenue from Maine’s small businesses. After Massachusetts passed a similar ban in 2019, 90% of lost sales shifted to neighboring states, with cigarette sales increasing by 22% in New Hampshire in the first year following the ban’s implementation.

This proposal is also bad for Maine taxpayers. Our state budget counts on the cigarette tax as one of the top five revenue sources.

Following the ban on menthol cigarettes in Massachusetts, the state received $114 million less in tax revenue. In Maine, the proposed flavor ban is projected to cost the state roughly $24 million in tax revenue. That’s money that could be spent on projects that help the state.

This ban is also unnecessary to prevent youth use, as responsible retailers and small businesses are already doing their part. Retailers in Maine have a 94% compliance rate and have no incentive to sell these products to anyone under 21.

There’s plenty of evidence that the efforts of small businesses and strong enforcement policies are working. We urge lawmakers to reject L.D. 1215.

Chad Grignon

Athens

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