A northern Utah lawmaker wants the state to do away with nicotine candy that he says poses a danger to children.

Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield, plans to introduce a bill in the upcoming legislative session that would "outright ban" the nicotine candy.

"It's on the shelf now," Ray said. "We're going to take it off the shelf. We're basically making the comment that it's just not welcome in Utah. Go somewhere else and kill their residents but we're going to draw the line here."

Ray said the candies -- which differ from approved smoking-cessation products -- are designed to look like candy or gum and are attractive to children. Ray's own 7-year-old daughter saw some advertised and asked for some, which frightened him because just a few of the candy tablets can kill a young child.

"We're putting a product out there that is absolutely fatal," Ray said.

His bill would give the Department of Health the ability to ban the candies and team up with law enforcement to implement the ban.


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