To Cleveland City Council and Mayor Justin Bibb:

We urge you to make this the year that Cleveland finally removes flavored tobacco products from local shelves, including flavored e-cigarettes, menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. For far too long, the tobacco industry has used flavored products to target and addict kids, Black Americans and other groups. It’s time to stand up to Big Tobacco and get rid of these flavored products once and for all.

City Council and Mayor Bibb must take action to eliminate the following flavored products:

• Flavored e-cigarettes: Over 1.6 million kids use e-cigarettes, and 90% of them use flavored products. E-cigarette companies lure kids with fun flavors and hook them with massive doses of nicotine.
• Menthol cigarettes: For decades, the tobacco industry has targeted Black communities, kids and other groups with marketing for menthol cigarettes. Today, 85% of Black smokers and half of youth smokers use menthol cigarettes – which are more addictive, easier for kids to start using, and harder for smokers to quit.
• Flavored cigars: The tobacco industry peddles cheap cigars in hundreds of flavors like strawberry, chocolate and tropical twist. Cigars are especially popular among Black and Hispanic youth.

In April 2025, the City took a major leap forward in tobacco control, passing a comprehensive legislative package that will ensure fewer kids are sold tobacco products, as well as putting a hold on the number of smoke and vape shops crowding Cleveland neighborhoods. Now, Cleveland legislators have the power to take further action to protect kids and save lives. By eliminating flavored tobacco products, you can greatly improve our City's health and stop tobacco companies from addicting another generation of kids. We urge you to act now!