Saturday, February 8, 2014

Templeton tightens tobacco regulations

Templeton tightens tobacco regulations

Eryn Dion
News Staff Writer

TEMPLETON — The Board of Health drafted regulations Thursday night tightly restricting sales of tobacco and nicotine delivery products in town, including banning their sale at local pharmacies.

The decision comes just a day after the nationwide pharmacy chain CVS Caremark announced they would stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products in their CVS/pharmacy stores.

The new Templeton regulations state that no retail establishment in town that operates, or has a health care institution within it, may sell tobacco or nicotine delivery products — such as pharmacies and drug stores. Nicotine delivery products are defined in the regulations as any product made of a tobacco substitute or that contains nicotine intended for human consumption and is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a smoking cessation device. This includes nicotine gels and electronic cigarettes.


Currently Templeton does not have any pharmacies within its limits, however, Joan Hamlett — director of the Central Mass Boards of Health Alcohol and Tobacco Control Alliance — explained that the board should take proactive steps in case any new businesses move in.

“The pharmacy ban is the big talk of the state right now and it’s good to have it in there because now you’re all set,” she said at Thursday’s board meeting.

While business development in the area is somewhat stalled, the long-delayed Patriots Plaza mall project was brought up. Officials said should a large retail store move in, these regulations would be in place without the need for another public meeting.

Also on the chopping block is the sale of blunt wrappers, which will be banned outright should the regulations pass — following a precedent set by Boston and other surrounding cities. Gardner, Leominster, and Fitchburg will be adding language concerning the sale of blunt wrappers and individual cigars when their regulations next come up for review, according to Ms. Hamlett.

Cigar prices will be restricted in Templeton, with single cigars selling for no less than $2.50 and no less than $5 for a package of four. These products can generally be purchased at gas stations and even some liquor stores.

The newly drafted regulations would also place ecigarettes behind the counter, a practice already in place at most stores due to their designation as a highly shoplifted item. Users will be subject to the same rules as non-electronic smokers and will not be able to smoke in a public area or inside a public building or vehicle. The number of Tobacco and Nicotine Delivery Product Sales Permits issued by the Board of Health will be capped at 8, although the number may be easily changed should more businesses come to Templeton.

The public hearing on the new regulations will be held on March 6 at the Town Offices and written comments may be submitted up to two weeks prior.

Templeton is not alone in tightening their tobacco restrictions, as Athol recently passed similar regulations with a favorable response. Winchendon — which has a CVS, Rite Aid, and Winchendon Family Pharmacy within the town — is also exploring the possibility of adopting these laws.

8 comments:

  1. I do not think the BOH should be dictating what stores are permitted to sell. I think they are overstepping their bounds, sorta like the power play they "tried" to put into place with the animal regulations. Cigarettes are already controlled. Until they are deemed illegal by the "real" government the local BOH needs to stay out of it. The BOH clearly has too much free time on their hands. Lottery tickets are dangerous (compulsive gambling) tooth paste is poisoned with fluoride (right Baldwin Templeton?), Beer and wine contribute to alcoholism, Sugar in soda is poison, Let's ban penny candy at the Templeton Country store. etc, etc, Why don't they ban those products too? I think we could help the town budget by dissolving the Templeton BOH. TOO MUCH GOVERNMENT INTRUSION INTO PRIVATE LIVES. PLEASE STAY AWAY. We can take care of ourselves , thank you. (P.S. I do not smoke)

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  2. ......And as far as CVS is concerned, that was a business decision that they felt was in their best interest, and I applaud them for that. It was not forced upon them by some power hungry BOH.

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  3. I'm in total agreement with everything Tom J said above.. this is America people.... the land of the FREE! enough with government intrusion and dictatorship into our private lives! if I choose to smoke that is my choice... cigarette smoking is a serious addiction there are many people that smoke that have tried to quit that cannot. they know smoking is killing them and no matter they still cannot quit (I am one of those people I've tried to quit many times and have COPD. I'm 57 and I have been smoking since I was thirteen years old)... electronic cigarettes are a tool to help people quit smoking why ban it if it can help someone finally kick the butts... most smokers are not treated like they are addicts they are treated like they have a social disease. Cigarettes are more addicting than Heroin or Cocaine! This mega tax that Massachusetts levies on cigarettes was suppose to be used to assist people in quitting smoking and deter people from starting to smoke... where is that money being used today??? it certainly is not being used for what it was intended for... it's in some crooked Politicians pocket... sick that the government takes advantage and profits off someones addiction!

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    1. Relax, it's for the children, remember?

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    2. shit when I was a kid and started smoking the government promoted tobacco products..:)

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  4. Wonder if the BOH and their employees are in favor of one of those new legal Head Shops in Templeton? They'll have to address that issue, or won't they?

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