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Tobacco

The Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Human Services/Bureau of Health/Partnership For A Tobacco-Free Maine (PTM) are involved in an exciting new initiative called NO BUTS: Blocking Underage Tobacco Sales! This program requires that participating retailers adopt responsible tobacco retailing practices and assists them with training employees on how to block underage tobacco sales.

This Office also oversees the enforcement of Maine's Juvenile Tobacco Law, 22 M.R.S.A. ch. 262-A. Contract enforcement personnel are trained by the Office of the Attorney General and conduct compliance inspections of tobacco vendors to assure that underage persons are not buying tobacco products. This enforcement effort is a component of PTM's comprehensive tobacco prevention effort that offers multiple educational opportunities for youth and adults throughout the state each year aimed at reducing tobacco use by underage teenagers. PTM also offers assistance to individuals who would like to quit smoking. The Office of the Attorney General also fields complaints of violations and enforces both the public place (including restaurants) and workplace smoking laws.

The state of Maine has enacted a new law (PDF) that affects tobacco sales in Maine. This law prohibits the sale of all cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco that is not included on a directory compiled and maintained by this office. Any person who sells cigarettes or roll-your-own tobacco not included on the directory to Maine consumers commits a criminal offense, as well as a violation of Maine's Unfair Trade Practices Act.

If you are a compliant tobacco product manufacturer, as defined by Maine law, and would like your brands to be included in the directory, you must complete and submit a Certification Form (MS Word) acceptable to this office. Any person who sells cigarettes or roll-your-own tobacco not included on the directory to Maine consumers commits a criminal offense, as well as a violation of Maine's Unfair Trade Practices Act.

In addition, the State of Maine has enacted a new rule (PDF) that requires certain non-participating manufacturers to file quarterly escrow payments, under certain circumstances. If required, you must complete and submit a Quarterly Certification Form (PDF) acceptable to this office.

Certain tobacco distributors and retailers are required to file a sales reporting form (MS Word) with the Office of the Attorney General each quarter, pursuant to 22 MRSA §1580-L(9).

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Willis. She may be reached via email at jennifer.willis@maine.gov.