At Georgians for a Healthy Future, we believe real change happens when neighbors work together. That is why we want to introduce you to one of our We Decide Georgia partners: No Menthol Movement ATL.
We Decide Georgia is a coalition that GHF helped launch to protect the ability of Georgia communities to make informed decisions about the issues that affect their health. Over the next few months, we’ll use this series to introduce you to more of our We Decide Georgia partners, and to help you understand preemption in plain language so you can spot it when it shows up in your own community.
No Menthol Movement ATL is a workgroup created by the H.E.A.R.T. Coalition. Their mission is simple but powerful: get menthol and other flavored tobacco products out of Atlanta neighborhoods.
No Menthol Movement ATL believes the targeting of Black communities is a social justice issue, one where the harm falls disproportionately on a community. Their leaders point out that this is not an accident. It is the result of years of aggressive marketing, cheaper prices in Black neighborhoods, and flavored products designed to hook young people early.
This is where preemption comes into play.
Preemption is when a larger government (like a state) sets limits on what a smaller government, like a city or county, can do. Preemption is neither good nor bad by default; what matters is whether it works like a floor or a ceiling.
A floor
Sets a baseline every community can count on, like a state minimum wage.
A ceiling
Blocks local governments from taking new or more action to meet the needs of their own residents, even when they can see a clear local need.
In Georgia, tobacco preemption works like a ceiling. State law stops cities and counties from adding a local tobacco tax or passing stronger regulations on menthol and flavored products, even though research shows those tools help reduce smoking. This means a city council member who wants to protect kids in their neighborhood may not have the authority to do so.
No Menthol Movement ATL is pushing back. They organize at events like National Night Out, the Menthol Summit, and the Great American Smokeout to get residents involved. They collect petition signatures, train youth advocates, and speak directly to city council members and county commissioners. Their work shows what it looks like when a community comes together to protect its health and shape its own future.
We are proud to stand with No Menthol Movement ATL as part of the We Decide Georgia coalition. Thank you for your partnership, your persistence, and your work to protect Georgia families.
What’s Next
Over the next few months, we will be spotlighting more We Decide Georgia members like No Menthol Movement ATL. Our goal is to help you understand preemption in plain language and show you real examples of how it affects your community. Preemption can be hard to spot. It often hides behind confusing legal language, but it has a real impact on your neighborhood, your local government, and you and your family.
Check out the Smokefree101 app for youth-friendly resources
Ask your local city council members where they stand on flavored tobacco sales
Every voice matters when it comes to deciding who gets to control our neighborhoods: corporations like tobacco companies or the people who call them home. No Menthol Movement ATL is proof that Georgians are ready to decide for themselves.
Stay tuned for our next We Decide Georgia spotlight!
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