January 20, 2023 3:00 a.m.

The American Red Cross is applauding a proposal in the Oregon State Legislature which would end the sale of menthol cigarettes and all other flavored tobacco products, including cigars, hookah, e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.

HB 3090 comes on the heels of a new report by the ACS that said over 26,000 Oregonians will be diagnosed with cancer in 2023, with an estimated 8,400 losing their lives to the disease. An ACS release said smoking causes 30 percent of all cancer deaths in the country.

Jamie Dunphy, Oregon director of government relations for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network said, “With a new year and a new legislative session comes a new opportunity for Oregon lawmakers to prioritize the health of Oregonians over tobacco industry interests and bottom line. Ending the sale of menthol cigarettes and all other flavored tobacco products would be a huge step in that direction”.

The new ACS report is linked: https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/annual-cancer-facts-and-figures/2023/2023-cancer-facts-and-figures.pdf