Denver Schools Endorse Anti-Tobacco Campaign

Denver Public Schools Board of Education Endorses the Denver Kids vs. Big Tobacco campaign to Protect Denver Kids from Flavored Tobacco

The Denver Public Schools Board of Education approved a proclamation during its board meeting on Wednesday endorsing the Denver Kids vs. Big Tobacco campaign that supports a YES vote on this November’s ballot to protect Denver kids and take flavored tobacco off store shelves. 

The proclamation notes that 8 out of 10 youth who have ever used tobacco started with a flavored product. It also cites the statistic that over 2.1 million US middle and high school students nationwide are current e-cigarette users, and nearly 90 percent use flavored products. 

“Having the support of Denver Public Schools board members shows that flavored tobacco is a serious problem in Denver and that we need to protect our kids,” said Jodi Radke, Regional Director for the Rocky Mountain-Great Plains Region with the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “Voting Yes on the ballot measure this November will end the sale of candy-flavored tobacco products and get Big Tobacco out of the hands of kids in Denver.” 

Tobacco products are available in a wide variety of kid-friendly flavors like cotton candy, gummy bear, pink lemonade, banana smash and cherry dynamite, the proclamation states. 

In its proclamation, the board cites one of its key motivations for ending the sale of flavored tobacco. The tobacco industry has targeted youth, especially in communities of color. Prohibiting the sale of flavored tobacco will eliminate one of the industry’s key strategies for targeting youth and prevent the next generation from suffering the long-term consequences of tobacco use. 

“As board members for Denver Public Schools, we’re proud to ask Denver voters to end the sale of flavored tobacco by voting Yes on this ballot measure,” said Marlene De La Rosa, Vice President, Denver Public Schools Board of Education. “Tobacco addiction has a tremendous negative impact on families across generations. My children have had to live without their grandparents because of tobacco. A Yes vote shows our kids that they matter, and we will protect our kids.” 

In December, by a vote of 11-1, the Denver City Council approved a ban on flavored tobacco products, and Mayor Mike Johnston signed the measure into law. Ignoring the sentiments of Denver’s elected officials, big tobacco companies poured money into collecting signatures that forced the measure onto this November’s ballot. 

In addition to support from the board of Denver Public Schools, Denver Kids vs. Big Tobacco has been endorsed by numerous community groups, public health advocates and health care providers, including the American Lung Association, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Colorado Nurses Association, NAACP Denver Branch and Colorado Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. 

Editor’s note: To learn more about Denver Kids vs Big Tobacco, visit https://yesfordenverkids.org.