The Canadian Cancer Society is celebrating one year since Menthol was banned in Nova Scotia.
The anniversary coincidentally lands on ‘World No Tobacco’ day.
Rob Cunningham, Senior Policy Analyst for the Canadian Cancer Society says the decision was a huge win for the anti-smoking movement.
“Nova Scotia set the national and world precident to ban menthol. We need to protect youth. Menthol is like a local anastetic, it covers up the harshness of tobacco smoke, it makes it easier for kids to experiement and get addicted and it should be banned.”
The tobacco industry is the only one in Canada that is regulated in this way.
Cunningham, says it’s for good reason.
“Tobacco products are unique,” he says. “They’re the only product that kills when used exactly as the manufacturer intends, and in fact one out of ever two long term cigarette smokers is going to die early due to smoking.”
This year their focus is on seeing plain packaging legislation put in place.
He says the move would keep us in line with other counties who’ve already banned colourful labels that could attract young smokers.