NORTHAMPTON, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - The Northampton Department of Health and Human Services and the Board of Health met to discuss the nicotine-free generation policy that would establish a birth-year cutoff for the legal sale of nicotine products within the city.

Neighbors and business owners shared mixed emotions with the board, some in favor of the policy and others saying adults should have the right to buy and smoke what they want.

“I believe this is the right way to go for the young people in Northampton and as they get older for the entire community of Northampton,” said Janet Grant, a member of the Northampton Board of Health.

On Thursday, Northampton health officials and community members came together to discuss the nicotine free generation policy. The proposed public health strategy is designed to gradually phase out the sale of nicotine products to future generations. The board decided on Thursday that under their proposal, anyone born after July 1st, 2005 wouldn’t be able to purchase nicotine in the city.

“We will be pushing youth to go an smoke marijuana because anybody who is 21 and older can walk to any dispensary and smoke that,” Northampton store owner Hamid Habib spoke out during Thursday’s discussion, saying retailers have already taken major steps to cut down on youth nicotine sales, and that a nicotine-free generation policy could hurt local businesses, “we already banned the flavored tobacco, which was a big attraction for the youth, we already raised the age to 21, so being a store owner, the youth has quite a bit gone away from smoking. anybody that is 21 or older is not youth anymore and I believe they should have a choice to make their own decision whether to some tobacco or not.”

But health officials pushed back, saying the policy isn’t aimed at today’s customers, and they don’t expect it to cause a big drop in sales, “I don’t expect a big hit to sales, that would require people who are currently able to buy cigarettes to spot buying and this NFG has nothing to do with that group. We’re talking about a potential market, not a current market; the current market consists of people who are 21 and older who can buy nicotine markets,” said Suzanne Smith.

Zachary Rich, a doctor from Newton, also spoke at Thursday’s meeting, he explained that stopping nicotine use before it starts is far easier than trying to treat addiction later, “I encourage you to strongly support this NFG policy. These are not safe products, and we want to keep them away from our kids.”

A hearing and vote on the policy is now set for April.

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