Draft Disclaimer
Prior to task force meetings, ALEC posts these legislative member-submitted draft model policies to our website. The draft model policies are then discussed, debated, and voted on by ALEC task force members. Policies that receive final approval by legislators on the ALEC Board of Directors become official ALEC model policy. Draft model policies that fail to become official ALEC model policy are removed from the website.
Summary
This resolution recognizes that tobacco harm reduction is a vital component in a successful tobacco control strategy. While abstaining from all tobacco is the best way for smokers to reduce their risk of disease, state governments must also consider if those who will not abstain can reduce their risk by switching to tobacco products that present less risk. Research consistently shows that many U.S. smokers are unaware that smoke-free tobacco products present less risk than cigarettes. Therefore, this resolution calls for transparency in terms of accurate and complete information on the relative risks of nicotine products that are not smoked. Furthermore, this resolution finds that excise taxes for smokeless tobacco products should reflect their relative risk in order to avoid arbitrary economic barriers to less risky products for consumers.
Model Policy
(See Amendments Here)
