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Neighborhood FORWARD Statement on the Ocean Park, MD Police Department Incident

Over the weekend, the Ocean City, MD Police Department tased teenagers in an effort to enforce a local vaping ordinance. 

 

Black and Brown law enforcement officials and experts have made it clear to us that this has always been a potential outcome of prohibitions against flavored tobacco and vaping products. Rather than invest in educational resources to dissuade young people from smoking or vaping​​​, our leaders have opted for an outdated ban, right out of the War on Drugs playbook, that has disproportionately punished Black and Brown communities​​​​​​​​​. 

 

Neighborhood FORWARD and our affiliates are calling for a thorough investigation into the incident and a total reconsideration of such laws and proposals across the country.