Hello, my name is Hallie Bennett, and I attend Sperry High School. I have worked closely with Hope Hodson, another YAHL Leadership Team member from my school, and I have had the chance to meet so many outstanding people across the state who are also on the YAHL Leadership Team. 

Before I talk about CounterAct Tobacco, it is important to learn about YAHL first. Youth Action for Health Leadership (YAHL), is a program that focuses on bettering the health of our youth through two policy change campaigns, while also improving our leadership and public speaking skills. The YAHL program has two campaigns: Elevate Student Health and CounterAct Tobacco. 

CounterAct Tobacco is a policy change campaign that focuses on stopping Big Tobacco companies from targeting minors with their advertisements for vapes and using addiction to control our youth. With CounterAct Tobacco, we want to move the power out of their hands and into ours. However, Oklahoma has preemption in place, which limits us from doing so. Preemption is a law that prevents local towns and cities from passing their own policies for tobacco products. If we remove preemption, it will allow towns and cities to make their own regulations on the sale of vapes and e-cigarettes. With CounterAct Tobacco, we want comprehensive tobacco retail licensing for vapes and e-cigarettes, since only traditional cigarettes are regulated under tobacco retail licensing in Oklahoma.

I care deeply about CounterAct Tobacco because of my sister. She started vaping at the age of 16 and already had asthma. Due to her asthma and vaping, she started developing more health complications. Vaping has changed her mood entirely; she is irritable and aggressive without her vape. She has lost all normal functions without hitting her vape every 1-3 minutes. 

Recently, Hope Hodson and I presented to our local elected officials at our town hall in Sperry. We got the mayor and council members to sign pledge cards to show they care and support us and our efforts for comprehensive tobacco retail licensing. She pledged that she will do anything in her power to protect our kids from the dangers of tobacco. However, with preemption still in place, her power is very limited.

We need your help and support to be rid of preemption and protect our youth. If you are a high school student, I heavily recommend becoming a YAHL member to help make our voices louder. Help our cause and protect our youth!

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By: Hallie Bennett, Sperry High School