We have the expectation that consumer products which cause injury and death are never placed on the market, but what do we do if a product began its sales before its harm was known and then addicted its consumers?

Can it still be recalled without rioting in the streets?

Dr. Green makes the case that while maintaining access to sales intact for current smokers, the lives of the NEXT generations can be protected with a simple policy that phases out the commercial sale of cigarettes to them -- acting on the science that we have had for at least six decades that there is no safe use of this product which, when used as directed, hastens injury and death.

Dr. Tamu Green is a developmental psychologist and thought leader who brings expertise and lived experience in communities facing inequities in her pursuit of social justice through institutional and systems change. She is the CEO of the Equity and Wellness Institute, where she works collaboratively with a talented team to assess and meet a wide variety of clients’ and communities’ needs. She began her career as a certified substance abuse prevention specialist. Recognizing the tremendous toll that smoking has taken on all communities, but particularly communities facing the most social and economic oppression, she has engaged in a 20-year campaign to phase out the sale of cigarettes. Those efforts have recently come to fruition as jurisdictions locally and globally are beginning to put this innovative policy into practice. Dr. Green’s efforts have been aided by her networks, including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and American Leadership Forum, of which she is a senior fellow.

Note:

Dr. Green misspoke and called the bill that would phase out tobacco in California AB395, but it was actually AB935. It was introduced by Assembly Member Connolly on 2/14/23 with this text but later amended because it did not receive the committee support it needed. It is our hope that the original version will be re-introduced and find success in the next legislative session.

How Much Can the USA Reduce Health Care Costs by Reducing Smoking?

From Dr. John Maa: American Indians gave tobacco leaf to Christopher Columbus and he brought it back to Europe. Indians thought it had medicinal purposes and used it for ceremonial reasons.