NEW LAW TO SNUFF YOUTH ACCESS TO SMOKES

September 19, 2003

SEPTEMBER 19, 2003

JOHN ARCHARD, TOBACCO CONTROL COORDINATOR, 207-626-8837

 

            Maine’s new law restricting Internet tobacco sales became effective September 13, 2003. This new law requires any retailer, whether located in Maine or anywhere else, to be licensed by the state in order to have tobacco delivered to Maine consumers. It also prohibits delivery services from shipping tobacco products to Maine consumers if shipped from unlicensed sellers. Key requirements of the law are tight age verification procedures that assure underage buyers cannot order and obtain tobacco from websites selling cigarettes and reporting requirements to assure Maine taxes are collected.

            Attorney General Steven Rowe said, “The importance of this new law is highlighted by a study published September 10th in the Journal of the American Medical Association.  The study found that minors were able to purchase cigarettes over the Internet 94% of the time using prepaid credit cards and 89% of the time using money orders.  This resulted in 1,650 packs of cigarettes delivered to underage buyers. The Maine Legislature is well justified in adopting the new law.”

            State Representative Glenn Cummings (D-Portland), the lead sponsor of the new law, said, “The law is good for Maine kids who won’t pick up smoking, good for Maine businesses who won’t face unfair competition from tax scofflaw websites, and good for tax-funded education and services.”

            Read the new law online at: http://janus.state.me.us/legis/ros/lom/lom121st/9pub401%2D450/pub401%2D450%2D58.htm

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