Following is testimony given by Emilie Gilde, Director of Tobacco Use and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention. The statement was presented to the Business Regulation and Occupations Committee on behalf of Dr. Wen on February 1, 2017.

Thank you to the Chair and members of the committee for your time today. My name is Emilie Gilde and I am the Director of Tobacco Use and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at the Baltimore City Health Department.

I am asking for your favorable report of this bill as it will help us immensely to keep e-cigarettes out of the hands of our youth.  Nicotine harms the brain development of adolescents and is toxic and highly addictive.  We already know that one-third of Baltimore high school students have tried them.

My department conducts compliance checks for the sales of tobacco and e-cigarettes to youth under 18 years.  We are able to conduct the tobacco checks because we get a list from the Comptroller’s office of everyone who has a tobacco license.

Right now we have no way of knowing what stores are selling e-cigarettes, other than our observations in the field.  By establishing a licensing system, we will know where to check for compliance and will be able to make sure stores are not selling e-cigarettes to our children.

Thank you.