Saugus health panel hears about proposed tobacco ban

SAUGUS – Saugus resident Bill Kramich said the Board of Health’s proposed tobacco regulation that would ban the sale of tobacco in pharmacies along with the sale of blunt wraps and small cigars less than $2.50 would hurt the town economy.”I’m against it,” said Kramich, who spoke at a public hearing on the proposal Monday night. “I feel for myself and the stores, they pay money into the town and right now the town needs money. Now you want to cut the legs out from the town of Saugus who is going through big problems as it is.”The Board of Health has been working for several months with Joyce Redford of the North Shore/Cape Ann Tobacco Alcohol Policy Program to write the new regulation, and on Monday night, residents had a chance to speak about the proposal.Residents Patti Stockwell and Josephine Redford both spoke in favor of the regulation.”I’m in favor of all the changes,” said Stockwell. “It’s good for the kids. A lot of those products are used for marijuana, so I would appreciate it if we could keep that out of the hands of kids.”Board of Health member Frank Woods works at Saugus High School and said he knows how many kids use small cigars to smoke marijuana.”You’re not going to find those in Cigar Aficionado,” said Woods. “Those are being marketed purely for the wrapper. Kids are hollowing them out and using them to smoke marijuana. Most in that price range are there for non-legitimate use.”The Board did not take a vote Monday night as Chairman Joe Vinard said that it will weigh every argument before making a decision.”We’re sensitive to the plight of finances in the community,” said Vinard. “That will come into play, but we’re the Board of Health, not the revenue board and we’re here for the health of the community.”The Board of Health meets the first Monday of every month at 6:15 p.m.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].