'Stop selling nicotine and cannabis to our kids.' Stamford community calls for more smoke shop accountability
The Stamford Prevention Council says there has been a significant increase in the number of smoke shops in the city since 2023.
More Stories
Smoke shops are popping up in more and more places, and people in Stamford want more protection for their kids.
The Stamford Prevention Council says there has been a significant increase in the number of smoke shops in the city since 2023.
Council member Ingrid Gillespie says some of those shops are illegally selling vapes and cannabis to minors.
"Kids are accessing vapes through smoke shops," Gillespie says. "We want smoke shops to stop selling nicotine and cannabis to our kids."
On Thursday, dozens of activists, parents and community leaders gathered downtown to bring awareness to the issue.
United Parents and Students helped organize the protest.
"President Trump talks about national security a lot," Stamford board of representatives member Carl Weinburg says. "Protecting our children - in my view - is one of our most important national security issues... that's why we're all here."
The town of Fairfield recently banned new smoke, vape and tobacco stores from setting up shop.
Stamford has restrictions on where smoke shops can be located.
Gillespie says its up to business owners, parents, and kids to do their part in helping solve the issue of illegal sales.
"There's not just a legal reason for it, but there's a real health impact," Gillespie says. "Kids get much more quickly addicted to nicotine and to cannabis... and it can have a lasting impact on their brain development."
