SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 33

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2010

INTRODUCED BY

Pete Campos

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO EXAMINE THE ISSUE OF TOBACCO USE BY MINORS AND THE INABILITY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO TAKE ACTION WHEN THEY ENCOUNTER TEENS SMOKING.

     WHEREAS, approximately one in four high school students in New Mexico uses tobacco; and

     WHEREAS, children's experimentation with smoking frequently develops into regular smoking, which typically turns into a strong addiction that can overpower the most diligent efforts to quit; and

     WHEREAS, ninety percent of all adult smokers began smoking while in their teens, or earlier; and

     WHEREAS, smoking and other tobacco use can cause serious long-term health issues as well as a number of immediate, sometimes irreversible, health effects; and 

     WHEREAS, the state has a significant financial interest in preventing minors from smoking due to the sizeable impact tobacco use has on the health care costs of the state; and

     WHEREAS, the state prohibits the sale of tobacco products to minors but does not prohibit tobacco use; and

     WHEREAS, law enforcement officers are powerless to act when they view minors smoking in public because the use of tobacco products by minors is not prohibited;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of health be requested to examine the issue of tobacco use by minors and the inability of law enforcement officers to take action when they encounter teens smoking in public and to make legislative recommendations to address this issue; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department of health be requested to include in its examination a review of what other states have done to address this issue; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department of health be requested to report its findings and recommendations to the interim legislative health and human services committee by November 1, 2010; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of health.

- 2 -