Multnomah County will host two public hearings on Tuesday, Oct. 20 on licensing businesses that sell tobacco.
The rate of illegal sales of tobacco to minors in Multnomah County is triple the national rate according to the most recent* Synar studies by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
The Board of County Commissioners is considering action to license tobacco retailers and wants public input. These laws have been effective at limiting illegal youth access to tobacco products.
Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in Multnomah County and the Surgeon General reports that nearly 90 percent of smoking adults began before age 18.
The public is invited to share input at one of the following meetings. You can also comment online.
Public Hearing Number 1: Central County
- Date: Tuesday, Oct. 20,2015
- Time: 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
- Location: Multnomah County Boardroom, 501 SE Hawthorne, Portland, 97214
Public Hearing Number 2: East County
- Date: Tuesday, Oct. 20,2015
- Time: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Location: David Douglas High School, 1001 SE 135th Ave, Portland, OR 97233
*Translation services will be available at David Douglas in Spanish, Somali, Korean, Russian and Mandarin.