FARGO (KFGO) – Fargo Cass Public Health proposed an ordinance Friday afternoon that would impact the sale of tobacco and nicotine products. The ordinance is aimed at reducing youth access to vaping products.
Changes proposed by the ordinance include a new sales license through the City of Fargo, required retailer education and a reduced number of licenses in addition to continued compliance checks.
Fargo Public Schools Superintendent Cory Steiner says vaping has become an increased problem in public schools and something needs to be done.
“It’s not an abstract issue for us, it’s something we confront daily in our schools and it is affecting student health, safety, and academic success.” Steiner said. “For me vaping creates significant disruptions to our learning environment. In our schools we see increased bathroom misuse, classroom interruptions, and increased disciplinary referrals directly related to vaping.”
Steiner says vaping sensors in school bathrooms are activated between 50 and 75 times a day.
“As a parent, I have heard from my own children about the use of these products in school where vaping has become normalized, maybe even more than normalized if that’s possible. It’s easily accessible and impacts student health and learning. My daughter states that she no longer uses the restrooms at Fargo North because of the amount of vaping that is happening within the restrooms.” Said Andrea Hueseth Zozel, a parent who spoke at Friday’s meeting.
Businesses are currently required to have a state license, the proposed City of Fargo license would cost businesses $15 with a $1,000 surety bond through the Attorney General’s Office.
Retailer training would be similar to training given to those who serve alcohol and provided by Fargo Cass Public Health at no cost.
In Fargo 144 businesses offer tobacco and nicotine products, Fargo Cass Public Health would like to reduce that number to 65. Businesses that currently possess a license would be grandfathered in with the changes. Compliance checks would continue under the proposal.
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