Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §1555-B, sub-§11, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 314, §1 and affected by §2, is amended to read:

11. Manner of displaying and offering for sale. Tobacco products, smoking paraphernalia and displays that market tobacco or smoking paraphernalia may not be displayed in a manner that can be viewed by minors, including, but not limited to, on the exterior of a building, in a location visible from a public right-of-way or on a wall or counter inside a retail establishment. Tobacco products may be displayed or offered for sale only in a manner that does not allow the purchaser direct access to the tobacco products. The requirements of this subsection do not apply to the display or offering for sale of tobacco products in multi-unit packages of 10 or more units, in tobacco specialty stores or in locations in which the presence of minors is generally prohibited. This requirement does not preempt a municipal ordinance that provides for more restrictive regulation of the sale of tobacco products.

SUMMARY

This bill prohibits the display of tobacco products, smoking paraphernalia or displays that market tobacco products or smoking paraphernalia in a manner that can be viewed by minors. This bill also eliminates the exception to the law governing the manner of displaying and offering for sale of tobacco products of the display or offering for sale of tobacco products in packages of 10 or more.