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Attachment F November 11,2020 The HonorableDan Roeand Members of the Roseville City Council 2660 Civic Center Drive Roseville, Minnesota55113 Dear MayorRoeand Council Members: I am the Chief Executive Officer of ClearWay Minnesota, an independent nonprofit organization that works to prohibiting the sale ofmenthol tobacco and all flavored tobacco productsinRoseville. We must take immediate actionto prevent nicotine addiction among youth. For the first time in nearly two decades, youth tobacco use increased in Minnesotaa trend driven by flavored tobacco products.Locally, the 2019 Minnesota Student Surveyfound that 9th-graders in Roseville School District are using e-cigarettes at rateshigher than the statewide average(20.5 percent versus 16.4 percent).Among Roseville 11th-graders, more than 21 percent reported using e-cigarettes in the last 30 daysan increase since 2016. The U.S. Surgeon General calls youth nicotine addiction a national epidemicand has urged lawmakers at all levels to protect kids.Eliminatingthe sale of ğƌƌ flavored commercial tobacco,including menthol products, will reduce youth tobacco addiction and improve health. Research shows that restricting the sale of flavored tobacco products is an effective public health strategy. Candy and fruit flavors are attractive to youth and menthol flavoring in particular makes it easier for kids to start smoking and harder to quit. State data show that higher rates of high schoolers use menthol cigarettes 34 percent of Minnesota high-school smokers use menthol, versus 25 percent of adult smokers. New national data also found that weak federal rules led to alarming increases in menthol e-cigaretteuseamong youth. In addition to protecting youth, clearing the market of menthol and all flavored products will directly improve the health of Black communities and other groups targeted by Big Tobaccomarketing.As you may know, the tobacco industry has used menthol flavors to racially segment and target certain customers, especially Black Americans, LGBTQ people, women and youth.Despite this harm, menthols are the only flavored cigarette left on the marketunder federal law.By passing a full flavor restriction, Roseville can join leading communities to address tobacco-related health disparities. Communities should not wait for federal or state action, especially as we faceCOVID-19,a deadly respiratory pandemic.Clearing the market of flavored tobacco products would reduce youth tobacco use and address Big ,particularlyin their racist targeting of Black communities. I hope Roseville will consider and passthis bold public health policy. Thank you. Sincerely, David J. Willoughby, M.A. Chief Executive Officer SM ClearWay Minnesota