September 01, 2026
WHEREAS, Michigan and Federal law prohibit the sale of tobacco, vapor, nicotine pouches, smokeless tobacco, and other age-restricted products to persons under the legal minimum age; and,
WHEREAS, We Card Awareness Month is a retail education and training initiative designed to increase Michigan retailers’ awareness of and participation in responsible retailing efforts to comply with federal, state, and local laws and to identify, prevent, and deny sales of tobacco, vapor, nicotine pouches, and other age-restricted products to underage persons; and,
WHEREAS, 2026 marks 31 years of education and training efforts by the national nonprofit organization, THE “WE CARD” PROGRAM, INC., which has helped retailers comply with age-restricted product laws and serve their communities as responsible retailers; and,
WHEREAS, We Card and Michigan Petroleum Association / Michigan Association of Convenience Stores are working to increase retailer and public awareness of social sources of tobacco, vapor, and nicotine pouches products, which according to CDC research account for approximately 79% of the ways underage individuals report obtaining vapor products, including through adult purchases, sharing, borrowing, or other indirect means; and,
WHEREAS, retailers are taking the “We Card Retailer Pledge” to identify and deny attempts by underage persons to purchase tobacco, vapor, nicotine pouches, and other age-restricted products, and to prevent purchases by adults on behalf of underage individuals where reasonable suspicion exists; and,
WHEREAS, We Card’s in-store educational materials, online training programs, and “ID Check-Up” mystery shopping service are available to all Michigan’s retailers through the organization’s website; and,
WHEREAS, We Card is endorsed by the Michigan Petroleum Association / Michigan Association of Convenience Stores and Michigan benefits from a responsible retailing community committed to preventing underage access to tobacco and other age-restricted products;
NOW THEREFORE, I, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of the State of Michigan, do hereby proclaim the month of September 2026 to be “WE CARD AWARENESS MONTH” in Michigan, and encourage all retailers throughout the state to participate in “We Card Awareness Month” and to let their customers know that “In Michigan, we don’t sell tobacco, vapor, nicotine pouches or other age-restricted products to kids!”
