Detroit City Council Approves Resolution to Restrict Marijuana and E-Cigarette Ads Near Youth-Focused Areas
The Detroit City Council has taken a step towards restricting the advertising of marijuana and e-cigarette products near areas that cater to youth. The council passed a resolution on Tuesday, which outlines the harm caused by these products on young people and directs the city’s law department to draft an ordinance that would prohibit or limit the location of advertisements for these products.
The resolution notes that the city’s current ban on advertising for alcohol and tobacco products within a 1,000-foot radius of child care centers, schools, libraries, and parks would be extended to include marijuana and e-cigarette products. This move aims to prevent youth from being exposed to these products and to reduce the risk of substance use problems.
Councilmember Scott Benson emphasized the need to prevent young people from getting into substance use problems with marijuana, citing the increasing strength and variety of products available. He also expressed concern about the potential impact of these products on young brains.
The resolution was sponsored by Councilmembers Scott Benson and Angela Whitfield Calloway, who have been pushing for stricter regulations on cannabis advertising in the city. Calloway noted that many students are engaging in substance use and that it is causing damage to their brains, which has been medically proven.
However, Councilman Coleman A. Young II expressed reservations about the ordinance, suggesting that education and health department initiatives might be more effective in addressing the issue. He also pointed out that many marijuana ads are “benign at best.”
The city’s law department is expected to make significant progress on the ordinance during the council’s recess, which begins in late November. The ordinance is expected to be sponsored by Benson and Calloway.
