CONTACT:
Jennifer Amundson
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Phone: 651-255-8137
Cell: 612-308-2997
Email: Jennifer.Amundson@cancer.org
MADISON, Wisc. (Oct 18, 2017)—The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Small Business and Tourism today advanced a bill that would move the display of all tobacco products behind store counters.
“This move is long overdue, and I want to thank the committee and bill authors Sen. Sheila Harsdorf and Rep. Jeff Mursau for their hard work in advancing this legislation,” said Sara Sahli, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s government relations director for Wisconsin. “The same logic that explains why children shouldn’t be able to browse through the cigarettes on store floors should also apply to cigars, e-cigarette juice cartridges, and all tobacco products. These products should not be next to the candy and snacks, which the current law allows. The right place for them is behind the counter.”
Two members of ACS CAN spoke at a committee hearing on the matter last week, and three more submitted written testimony. Today, the committee voted unanimously, 9 to 0, to advance the bill. It now moves to the full Senate for a vote.
“As the bill moves forward in the Senate, we urge the Assembly to follow suit and pass this bill during the current legislative session.” explained Sahli.
About ACS CAN
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.acscan.org.
