Gov. Jared Polis says he doesn’t support a bipartisan bill that would ban the sale of flavored tobacco and nicotine products, including menthol cigarettes, because he prefers a local regulatory approach. But some city and county leaders explicitly support the measure, now stalled in the legislature, and two organizations that represent local governments and fiercely […]
vaping
Posted inColoradans, Health, News, Outdoors
Weed helped turn him into an ultrarunner — and he’s far from the only one
Denver writer Josiah Hesse was hungry for a new addiction when he picked up some running shoes and threw himself into the sport. He’d heard about the coveted runner’s high — and how health-conscious adults were willing to sacrifice sleep to experience it — and he wanted a taste for himself. He was instantly disappointed. […]
Posted inBusiness, Crime and Courts, Election 2020, News, Politics and Government
Emails show negotiations involving Colorado governor, cigarette giant that led to tobacco tax hike
Gov. Jared Polis’ office was asked to meet several conditions insisted upon by Altria in exchange for the cigarette giant agreeing not to fight legislation that put a question on the November ballot asking voters to raise tobacco and nicotine taxes in Colorado, emails obtained by The Colorado Sun show. One of those conditions included […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: Investing in our present and future doesn’t have to be just a slogan for Colorado voters
We find ourselves in uncertain times, but this November, Coloradans will have the opportunity to take a concrete step forward in support of health and education. By voting yes on Proposition EE, we can choose to boost community health, particularly for our teens, protect our public schools from the worst of the budget cuts facing […]
Posted inBusiness, Crime and Courts, News, Politics and Government
Marlboro’s owners negotiated Colorado’s proposed tobacco tax hike — and it could help them dominate the cigarette market
The maker of Marlboro cigarettes spent more than $16 million to block a tobacco tax increase in Colorado four years ago. Now it could benefit from the passage of a question on the November ballot that would dramatically increase the price of cigarettes — a question the company helped write. The company, Altria, was part […]
Posted inBusiness, Crime and Courts, Health, News
Colorado attorney general sues Juul, claims vape company marketed to kids and downplayed health risks
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said Tuesday he has filed a lawsuit against Juul that alleges the vaping company marketed its products to kids and downplayed their health risks. Weiser is also accusing Juul of falsely suggesting its vaping products are a healthy smoking alternative and can help people quit using cigarettes. Weiser’s office has […]
Posted inHealth, News, Politics and Government
The effort to ban flavored vaping products, menthol cigarettes in Colorado now has a big asterisk
Democratic state lawmakers set out this year to pass a bill banning the sale of all flavored vaping and nicotine products in Colorado, including menthol cigarettes and wintergreen smokeless tobacco, as a way to curb teen use. They won’t get it done. On Tuesday, House Bill 1319 — which sought to impose the blanket ban […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
Here are the big ideas that Gov. Jared Polis and Colorado lawmakers pitched for the 2020 session
By Erica Breunlin, Jennifer Brown, Moe Clark, John Ingold and Jesse PaulThe Colorado Sun From mental health to teacher pay, Colorado’s leaders are exploring innovative ideas to tackle the state’s biggest challenges. Gov. Jared Polis and four state lawmakers pitched their ideas Tuesday at the Big Ideas Forum hosted by The Colorado Sun, CBS4 and […]
Posted inBusiness, Health, News, Politics and Government
Colorado lawmakers will weigh in 2020 whether to ban flavored vaping products
State Rep. Yadira Caraveo plans to introduce legislation in the coming weeks to ban flavored vaping products as a way to curb what officials say are crisis levels of teen e-cigarette use in Colorado. “These flavors are targeted toward children, and really are meant, in my opinion, as a way to addict a new generation […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: It’s time for Colorado to respond to the teen vaping epidemic
“Gummy bear,” “cotton candy” and “banana split” aren’t just candy flavors you might find in your child’s Halloween basket; they are flavors that tobacco executives are using right now to hook kids like yours on nicotine vaping. Despite the news you may have recently read about the Trump administration’s new restrictions on nicotine vaping products, […]