Marsh students propose city ordinance to curb teen vaping; council voices support

Students from the Marsh Grammar School civics homeroom presented a draft city ordinance Monday that would create a tiered penalty structure for underage vaping and for adults or retailers who sell vaping products to minors.

The student group — led by teacher Jenna Gagnon and several homeroom representatives — described results from a voluntary survey of middle- and high-school students in Methuen and laid out a three-strike penalty schedule for minors and escalating fines for retailers and suppliers. The proposed enforcement authorities would include the Methuen Police Department, the health department and inspectional services.

“We hope you learned something valuable from Miss Gagnon’s civics project about teen vaping and consider our ideas,” said one student presenter at the close of the presentation.

The draft would impose: a written warning plus mandatory education for a first possession offense by a minor; fines and community service for second offenses; and increased fines and longer community service for third and subsequent offenses. Retailers would face fines starting at $500 for a first offense, rising to $2,000 and potential court action for repeat violations.

Councilors praised the students’ research and asked staff to examine how the proposal would interact with existing state law. Councilor DiZaglio noted that Massachusetts law already penalizes retailers for sales to minors but does not create a municipal possession penalty for juveniles; students proposed the local ordinance specifically to address that gap.

Mayor Beauregard and several councilors told the students they would meet to discuss the proposal and, if the council moves forward, would invite the students to a signing or ceremonial event. The council’s public-safety staff offered to help review enforcement options and statute compatibility.

Why it matters Student advocates said the ordinance stems from local survey results and national studies linking youth vaping to addiction and respiratory harm. The proposal would give city officials a local enforcement tool aimed at discouraging underage use and holding adults and retailers accountable where state and local inspections detect violations.

What’s next Councilors said staff will review the draft ordinance and report back with legal analysis of how a local possession penalty would interact with state law and existing retail penalties. The students said they will present the proposal at a civic event in Boston later in the week.