Title
Resolution Authorizing the City of Ann Arbor to be Listed as a Supporting Municipality in an Amicus Brief to be filed with the Michigan Court of Appeals in RPF Oil Co v Genesee County and Genesee County Health Dep't (Ct App Docket No. 344735)
Memorandum
The City of Ann Arbor has an interest in being listed as a supporting municipality in an amicus brief to be filed in RPF Oil Co v Genesee County and Genesee County Health Dep't due to the public health issues in this case, which involve the sale of tobacco products to individuals under 21 years of age.
Staff
Prepared by: Jane Allen, Legal Assistant
Reviewed by: Kristen D. Larcom, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Approved by: Howard S. Lazarus, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, On August 4, 2016, Ann Arbor City Council passed an ordinance amendment (Ordinance No. ORD-16-17), to make it unlawful to sell, give or furnish a tobacco product in any form to a person under 21 years of age (previously the age was 18);
Whereas, In the ordinance passed in 2016, City Council made findings that included, but were not limited to, the following:
* Tobacco use is the number 1 cause of preventable death in Michigan and continues to be an urgent public health challenge.
* Every year smoking costs Michigan nearly $9.4 billion dollars in direct healthcare expenses and lost productivity.
* For the first time in 20 years, the adult smoking rate in Washtenaw County increased, from 12.3% in 2010 to 14.8% in 2015.
* Nearly 95% of people who smoke start before age 21, which makes them more likely to develop a severe addiction to nicotine.
* The younger people start smoking, the greater their risk of many adverse health outcomes, such as respiratory disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer.
* Tobacco use continues to be a significant public health concern for youth in the City.
* Raising the minimum legal age for tobacco sales is important to protect the City's population of individuals under the ...
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