Opinion: New $15 per-pack cigarette minimum in Minneapolis hurts those it’s trying to help

As the founder of JIIVE (Justice Impacted Individuals Voting Effectively) and leader in my community, I had time to reflect on the complexities of our criminal injustice system, and a political apparatus that has tricked us into believing our vote does not count and as well as societal norms.

The Minneapolis City Council passed an ordinance that sets a minimum price for cigarettes at a staggering $15. While the intention may seem noble — to deter smoking and improve public health — it’s crucial to question whether such measures truly address why justice-impacted individuals under constant social-economic stress smoke.

Let’s be clear: I am not trying to downplay the seriousness of tobacco-related deaths in the United States, which amount to more than 480,000 per year. I am not advocating for the widespread use of tobacco either. Having witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of addiction, I understand the need to combat it urgently. However, I am concerned about the approach policymakers have taken. Instead of relying solely on punitive measures such as high taxes and outright bans, we should be exploring more effective alternatives.

Income is a crucial factor in determining our quality of life. It’s ironic that a pack of cigarettes costs the same as what is considered as the minimum wage required to lead a decent life. It’s distressing to think that an average person has to work for a full hour just to afford a smoke break. This could be one of the reasons why people continue to smoke despite knowing its harmful effects. As an hourly worker, my only respite from work is a quick smoke break. But if I cannot afford a pack of cigarettes, I must continue working on the floor without any break. This raises questions about whether we are creating more problems than we are solving. While it’s true that many people are unaware of the options available to help them quit smoking, the reality is that smoking is a coping mechanism for many who are struggling to deal with the challenges of being justice-impacted in America.

It’s also important to consider the impact of punitive measures like minimum pricing on small businesses and marginalized individuals. For many in underserved communities, cigarettes serve as a coping mechanism amidst systemic inequalities and socio-economic challenges. Punitive measures only deepen the cycle of poverty and addiction, further marginalizing those who are already disenfranchised.

Instead of wasting resources on prohibitionist policies, we should invest in health care providers who are at the forefront of tobacco cessation efforts. By providing them with the necessary tools and knowledge to effectively counsel patients on harm reduction strategies, we can make significant progress in reducing tobacco-related diseases. Unfortunately, this message is often overlooked due to concerns about youth initiation and misguided perceptions of e-cigarettes as equally harmful as combustible tobacco. Such perceptions can also make it harder for justice-impacted workers to choose legal drugs because they are often more expensive. This is not the solution we want. Instead, we need to embrace harm reduction principles and reject blanket bans and punitive measures that only worsen the problem.

It’s time to shift the paradigm from prohibition to harm reduction. Bans, prohibition, and taxation do little to deter smoking — they merely drive it underground, exacerbating existing disparities.

Education and access to lower-risk cessation products hold the key to meaningful change.

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