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The Tobacco Ordinance adopted by the county board of commissioners on November 16, 2019, was amended by the county board on May 24, 2022.
Before adopting the updated version, commissioners heard from Grand Portage RBC member John Morin, who talked about the importance of tobacco to the indigenous culture. Morin said kids can take part in traditional sacred ceremonies involving tobacco, but elders teach the kids about the misuse and dangers of tobacco, so they know the difference. He asked for a provision in the ordinance to acknowledge this, and his concerns and that of the Grand Portage Band were granted in Section 1300 of the ordinance under Exceptions and Defenses.
“Cook County respects and honors the use of Traditional Sacred Tobacco by Indigenous community members. Nothing in this Ordinance shall prevent an individual from the non-commercial furnishing of Traditional Sacred Tobacco to another for the purpose of a lawfully recognized indigenous practice or other lawfully recognized religious, spiritual, or cultural ceremony or practice.”
The counties’ ordinance regulates the licensing and regulation of the sale of tobacco, tobacco related devices, electronic delivery devices, and nicotine or lobelia delivery of products in unorganized territories of Cook County, with the exception of areas in cities and towns that license and control the sale of tobacco in accordance with state law.
Sales of tobacco, e-cigarettes or tobacco related products to anyone under 21 violates both state and federal law.
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