Smokeless Tobacco
Smokeless tobacco refers to chewing tobacco, snuff, snus, and dissolvable tobacco
products (lozenges, orbs, sticks, and strips). The amount of nicotine absorbed in one 30‐
minute “dip” is equivalent to the amount in 3 cigarettes. 16
Cigarillos and Cigars
Cigars and cigarillos are similar to cigarettes, but they are wrapped in a
substance that contains tobacco (and nicotine) instead of just paper.
Cigar and cigarillo smokers both inhale nicotine and absorb it through
the lining of their mouths. 17
Cigarillos are typically cheap and are available in several lavors,
which makes them appealing to youth.
Hookah
Hookah is NOT a safe alternative for cigarettes or e‐cigarettes. A
typical hookah session involves 100‐200 puffs while an average
cigarette is 20 puffs. 18
V IRGINIA L EGISLATION
HB 2384—Tobacco‐Free Schools: 19
This bill requires every school board, as of July 1, 2019, develop and im‐
plement a policy that prohibits the use and distribution of tobacco
products on school buses, school property, and at any off– or on‐site
school activity.
HB 2748—Tobacco 21: 20
This bill requires the minimum age to purchase tobacco products
(including traditional cigarettes, ENDS products, smokeless tobacco and
all nicotine products ) to increase to the age of 21 as of July 1, 2019.
HB 1881—Vaping Prevention Education in Schools: 21
As of July 1, 2019, this bill requires the Virginia Foundation for Healthy
Youth (VFHY) to develop educational materials concerning health and
safety risks of using tobacco and e‐cigarettes. This will be distributed to
every elementary and secondary school in VA.
§ 15.2‐2824—Indoor Clean Air Act: 22
Effective December 1, 2009, this act was amended to be a statewide ban on
a variety of locations including some workplaces and restaurants and bars
except for the latter two where there is a structurally separate area that
also has separate ventilation.
8