MHOA Tobacco Control Program
Funded through a grant from the Department of Public Health/Massachusetts Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program (MTCP), the MHOA Tobacco Control Program provides technical assistance to local Boards of Health around issues of tobacco and nicotine delivery product sales and environmental tobacco smoke exposure.
FY27 MHOA Mini Grant Application
Mini Grant Office Hours will be offered virtually on 11/10/26 12-1pm Mini Grant Office Hours & 12/10/26 12-1pm Mini Grant Office Hours to answer any questions that may arise.
Training for Health Department Staff
These training courses are open to all health departments, although if there is a cap on the number of attendees, preference will be given to municipalities in a Shared Service Arrangement who have identified improving their tobacco capacity as a goal. We will be updating this document live with links to the registration as they open. We will announce when registration will open both through our website and MHOA weekly newsletter.
Youth Access Tobacco Compliance Check Training: Information provided in this training will include but not be limited to: pre-check and post-check activities, youth recruitment, data collection, inspection strategies, and enforcement. This training is an important tool to increase your municipalities capacity to conduct tobacco education, inspection and enforcement.
- November 17, 2026 at 1 pm Register Here
- January 27, 2027 at 10 am
- February 10, 2027 at 1 pm
- March 30, 2027 at 10 am
- April 30, 2027 at 11 am
Model Tobacco Sales Regulation Information Training: An overview of the new model tobacco sales regulations with technical assistance providers. It will also go over policy and strategy recommendations for improving local tobacco control. The most recent model regulations will be provided to attendees following the course
- December 9, 2026. 3-4 pm
- February 22, 2027. 3-4 pm
- March 9, 2027. 3-4 pm
- April 14, 2027. 3-4 pm
Retail Tobacco Inspection Training: Information provided in this training will include but not be limited to : identifying the reasons to conduct retail tobacco inspections, components of a tobacco inspection, describing the procedure for approaching and conducting the inspection, determining and explaining remedies for non-compliance as well as resources available to provide the retailer in educating and training store employees.
- December 2, 2026 at 1 pm
- January 12, 2027 at 10 am
- February 4, 2027 at 1 pm
- March 10, 2027 at 10 am
- April 1, 2027 at 1 pm
Educating Merchants: Training for Tobacco Inspectors: This training will provide guidance for distributing materials and resources to tobacco retailers, informing them of current fines for noncompliance, the importance of age verification, tips for refusing sales, and training opportunities for clerks on responsible sales practices.
- November 12, 2026 at 1 pm Register Here
- December 11, 2026 at 10 am
- January 21, 2027 at 1 pm
- February 24, 2027 at 10 am
- March 24, 2027 at 1 pm
- April 13, 2027 at 10 am
Laying a Solid Foundation - Tobacco Laws Pertaining to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Below is a booklet that was designed to introduce public health professionals and others to state and federal tobacco-related laws affecting Massachusetts, as well as the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement. This booklet has been recently revised and includes the following chapters: Laws Prohibiting Smoking, Tobacco Product Sales Laws, Health Warning Laws, Tobacco Advertising and Promotion, Tobacco Taxes and Pricing, Legal Authority to Regulate Tobacco Locally, and Working at the Local Level, Emerging Issues and Local Regulation Checklist Templates.
Guidance Documents for Tobacco Sales Law Implementation
Resources
- Resources For Tobacco Law Implementation (PPT)
- How to Confirm that a Sale of a Tobacco Retail Store Is Legitimate
MTCP Complaint Line: 1-800-992-1895
2019 Tobacco Control Law | Mass.gov:
- Tobacco Retailer Guidance 105 Cmr 665
- Retailer Ends Guidance Letter 2021
- Dph Flavor Guidance Letter 2021
- Dph Vaping Letter To Retailers
Signage:
- www.mass.gov/maclearinghouse - order free of charge
DOR Complaints:
State Law
- Citations For First Sale Guidance Doc
- Determining Product Coverage By State Law Guidance
- Manufacturer Letter Content Checklist
Adult-Only Retail Tobacco Stores or Retail Tobacco Stores
- Adult Only Retail Tobacco Stores
- Definition Of Incidental In Aorts
- Determining If Adjoining Businesses Are Separate
Inspections and Confiscation
- Banned Product Confiscation
- Contacting Dept Of Revenue
- Enforcement Protocol For Smoking Bars
- Reinspection Guidance
Flavored Products and Flavor Enhancers
- Determining Flavor Enhancers
- Enforcing Restrictions On Flavored Tobacco And Vapes
- Flavor Enforcement
Appeal Hearings
Violation Payments
Hemp, CBD, Delta 8, Marijuana, Rolling Papers, Blunt Wraps, Fronto
Provided Services
Training
- Training for board of health staff in approved protocols of conducting retail tobacco inspections and compliance checks
- Group training for tobacco retailers regarding federal, state and local tobacco laws, regulations/ordinances
- NEW – Online Training for Tobacco Retailers
Technical Assistance
- Informs local boards of tobacco sales during Food & Drug Administration (FDA) compliance checks
- Provides strategies and resources to assist local boards of health in conducting an inspection regarding a complaint of a violation of the state smoke free workplace law
Advocacy
- MHOA is a member of the Executive Committee of Tobacco Free Massachusetts
- Advocating for stronger state laws regarding tobacco sales and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke
- Working with partner organizations throughout the state to educate key stakeholders
Information
- Up-to-date information on tobacco control issues through the organization website and alerts, at MHOA quarterly meetings, and at the annual MHOA conference.
Restricting the Sale of Nicotine Products
Restricting the Sale of Nicotine Products
Tobacco Control Municipal Lists by Policy
As the tobacco industry expands its products and how they are marketed and sold, the CAST (Community Statewide Assistance Team) has developed model regulations for both the sale and use of tobacco products. Below are lists of communities that have passed various provisions in these model regulations. These lists will be updated as needed. If you have questions or need assistance please contact Sarah McColgan (MHOA Tobacco Control) at smccolgan@mhoa.com.
- Muni List Retail Window Coverage
- Muni List Nfg 3
- Muni List Health Orders
- Muni List Flat 300 Fine
- Muni List Educational Institutions
- Muni List Cities Regulatory Route
- Muni List Cigar Minimum Pricing
- Muni List Capping Number Of Permits
- Muni List Blunt Wraps
- Muni List Aorts Muni List Nfg 3
- Muni List Youth Possession
- Muni List Without Permit
- Muni List Vending Machine
- Muni List Vape Sales Ban
- Muni List Vape Sale Limits
- Muni List Unified Penalties
- Muni List Suspension Duration 1st Violation
- Muni List Smoking Bars
- Muni List Separate Permits
- Muni List Schools Retailers
- Muni List Ryo Ban
- Muni List Rts Smoking
- Muni List Rolling Papers
- Muni List Rolling Papers Reformated
- Muni List Revolving Fund
- Muni List Retailers Near Retailers 1
- Muni List Retail Window Coverage
- Muni List Private Clubs Limits Only
- Muni List Retailers Near Retailers
- Muni List Private Clubs Ban Only
- Muni List Permit Revocation
- Muni List Permit Fees
- Muni List - Kratom Ban
Contact Us
Email tobacco@mhoa.com with questions or inquiries.
Kratom - What is KRATOM/7-OH?
What is KRATOM/7-OH?
Kratom is a product in many of your convenience stores and adult only retail tobacco stores. It is controversial and the local and federal level.
Please view this webinar to become more familiar with the product and the issues that it brings:
Some municipalities in MA have banned the sale of Kratom. There is a template regulation on the MAHB website: https://www.mahb.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Draft-Regulation-Synthetic-THC-Kratom-5.16.25.pdf
Merchant Education Videos
Click here for Tobacco Merchant Education Videos
Click here for ADA-compliant videos for the visually impaired
Haga clic aqui para los videos educativos para comerciantes
Haga clic aqui para los videos educativos para comerciantes para personas con discapacidad visual
Gujarati - તમાકુના વેપારીઓ માટેના શૈક્ષણિક વવડિયો જોવા અહીં ક્લિક કરો
Hindi - तंबाकू विक्रे ता प्रशिक्षण िीवियो देखने के शिए यहााँ क्लिक करें
Resources
Tobacco Toolkits
Does your municipality want to do tobacco retail inspections/compliance checks, but you don’t know where or how to start?
Do you want guidance on pre-hearing (both permit suspension and regulation revision hearings) and post-hearing recommended activities?
The Tobacco Toolkit takes what may seem to be a daunting task and breaks it down and simplifies it with helpful guidance, protocols and topics.
If you have specific questions, need help identifying an independent contractor to conduct tobacco control services, have questions regarding costs and funding for tobacco control, want training for your retailers or board of health staff training in retail tobacco inspections and compliance checks please contact Sarah McColgan at smccolgan@mhoa.com
