New Poll Shows Michigan Voters Strongly Support Policies to Reduce Tobacco Use
Keep MI Kids Tobacco Free Alliance calls for legislative action
to protect Michigan youth
LANSING – Michigan residents remain concerned about young people using tobacco and vaping products and support legislative efforts to reduce tobacco use and protect kids, according to a new poll released today by the Keep MI Kids Tobacco Free Alliance.
“Protecting Michigan youth from the dangers of tobacco use is important to Michigan residents and these poll results reinforce that fact,” said Jodi Radke, regional advocacy director for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and co-chair of the Keep MI Kids Tobacco Free Alliance. “We made progress last session on this topic but unfortunately couldn’t get stronger tobacco prevention measures over the finish line. Action to keep these addictive and dangerous products away from our youth is long overdue and we urge Michigan legislators to make this a priority this year.”
Eight out of 10 (80%) Michigan voters say they are concerned about young people using tobacco products including e-cigarettes, hookah tobacco, nicotine vapes, and nicotine pouches like Zyn. As a result of this concern, the survey also showed that:
78% of voters support requiring retailers to be licensed to sell tobacco in Michigan.
70% of voters support removing criminal penalties on youth who possess, purchase or use tobacco and instead licensing retailers and holding them accountable for selling to minors.
67% of voters support increasing the state cigarette tax with an equivalent increase to other tobacco products like chewing tobacco, e-cigarettes and nicotine vapes, with the money being used to reduce use of these products among minors.
The statewide survey found widespread support, with a majority of voters across key demographic groups indicating support for these commonsense and critical policies.
“Each day we fail to enact stronger tobacco use prevention measures, the youth vaping crisis grows, jeopardizing the health of Michigan kids,” said Dr. Brittany Tayler, internist and pediatrician at the Pediatric Public Health Initiative at Michigan State University and co-chair of Keep MI Kids Tobacco Free Alliance. “The best way to protect our youth from a lifetime of addiction is to enact stronger tobacco prevention measures and these poll results show that Michigan voters, regardless of their race, gender, political party, or zip code want more to be done to protect our kids.”
Previous polling done in 2023 showed similar results, reinforcing just how important protecting youth from the dangers of tobacco is to Michiganders. The survey results also reinforce the need for new legislation in 2025, as bills creating a tobacco retail licensing program and removing criminal penalties for youth narrowly missed being sent to the Governor last session. In her Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal, Governor Whitmer called for closing a longstanding loophole and taxing e-cigarettes and nicotine vapes similar to how Michigan taxes cigarettes and chewing tobacco.
During this session, the Keep MI Kids Tobacco Free Alliance is asking the Legislature to:
Require tobacco retailers to be licensed, just like liquor and marijuana retailers, so the state can effectively enforce laws prohibiting the sale of tobacco to minors.
Repeal ineffective penalties that punish kids and, instead, hold the companies that profit from tobacco sales accountable.
Tax e-cigarettes and nicotine vaping products just like cigarettes and other tobacco products.
Invest funding in proven prevention and cessation strategies to reduce youth tobacco use.
The statewide poll of 600 Michigan residents was conducted from January 27-31, 2025 by the Glengariff Group. Of the responses, 85% were collected via cell phone, while 15% responded via landline. Full polling data details are available here.
About the Keep MI Kids Tobacco Free Alliance
The Keep MI Kids Tobacco Free Alliance is a coalition of more than 120 public health, community organizations, school groups and other community groups advocating for stronger tobacco policy and prevention in Michigan. Learn more at KeepMIKidsTobaccoFree.com.
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