Youth meet with Sen. May, Assemblymembers Magnarelli, Stirpe, Lemondes, and Hunter
TOBACCO-FREE CNY, MARCH 4, 2026 – Every year in mid-February, Reality Check youth from around New York State gather in Albany with a common purpose: speaking with legislators on the dangers of tobacco and sharing the success of the New York State Tobacco Control Program. On February 25th six Reality Check youth from Onondaga County made their way to the Legislative Office Building at the New York State Capitol. They joined dozens of other youth from Reality Check groups across the state to educate their legislators about tobacco and its harms.
Local Reality Check youth had the opportunity to meet with Assemblymembers Al Stirpe, Pamela Hunter, John Lemondes, and William Magnarelli, along with Senators Rachel May and Christopher Ryan and staff members from their offices. During these visits, the youth educated them on the harms of tobacco on the environment, the harms of menthol and its targeted marketing to specific populations, and how youth are being targeted by Big Tobacco through flavors and new products, like vapes and nicotine pouches.
An emerging issue for young people is the use of nicotine pouches, and especially the dual use of pouches and vapes. The Truth Initiative stated in a recent research article that there has been an increase in nicotine pouch sales of 207% in the last 2 years, and a 14.7% increase in dual use among young people. The students brought information to their legislators about this issue and discussed with them the health impacts and risks of using nicotine pouches, specifically in adolescence.
The six youth facilitated a total of six meetings throughout the day and excelled in speaking with their elected officials. One of the topics that the youth brought to the attention of the legislators was the ease of youth obtaining vapes and nicotine pouches. Students have visited stores that sell popular snacks and desserts featured on TikTok that also sell flavored vapes and nicotine pouches. One of the students told the legislators about being in a store and seeing “one of my classmates buy a vape in the store. When I checked out, they even asked if I wanted to buy one, too.” The students shared how many tobacco retailers are near their schools and how that makes it easier for kids to get these products.
The mission of the New York State Tobacco Control Program (TCP) is to reduce tobacco-related illness, disability, and death and to alleviate the social and economic burden caused by tobacco use in New York State. 2025 marked the 25th Anniversary of the TCP and allowed us to look back on the progress that has been made over the years. The TCP implemented the Clean Indoor Air Act in 2003, increased access to effective cessation services, and has reduced the state smoking rate from about 23% in 2000 to 9.3% this year. For every $1 invested in the TCP, New York achieves a $15 reduction in smoking-related health care costs. Despite the success of the TCP, they receive only 2% of the state’s annual tobacco revenue from tobacco product excise tax ($1.03B) and Master Settlement Agreement funds ($764M). Additionally, the CDC recommends New York State to spend $203 million on tobacco control annually, whereas the state spends $34.8 million, just 17% of the CDC’s recommendation.
For more information on Reality Check or Tobacco-Free CNY, visit www.tobaccofreecny.org.