FALMOUTH, Maine — The town of Falmouth is now the sixth Maine community to ban merchants from selling flavored tobacco products in an effort to help protect the teen population from early nicotine exposure.
Falmouth joins Bangor, Brunswick, Bar Harbor, Portland, and South Portland with similar ordinances in place.
Town councilors voted 5-2 in favor of the ban at a meeting Monday night.
"Data shows that this is an entryway for youth to start smoking because the flavors mask the harsh taste of tobacco," Dan Cashman, a spokesperson for Flavors Hook Kids Maine, said. "These products are manufactured and marketed to hook kids and that's just widely inappropriate."
Some opponents argue the rule is too broad and will negatively impact legal users of these products.
"This ban will not make a significant impact on the population it seeks to affect: the youth in our community," Falmouth Town Councilor Tommy Johnson said. "Remember, youth and teenagers that we are trying to shield from these products aren’t legally allowed to purchase them."
The Hallowell City Council held a first reading of a similar ordinance.