Chair Yamane, members of the committee, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to submit testimony on HB 1570.
My name is Guy Bentley, and I’m the director of consumer freedom at the Reason Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit think tank. The consumer freedom project analyzes and promotes policy solutions that improve public health while avoiding unintended consequences and protecting consumer choice.
The intention behind HB 1570 to limit tobacco use, especially among youth, is to be applauded. However, the evidence on the success of such prohibitions should raise significant concern that the ban will promote further inequalities in the criminal justice system,
